The Dallas Mavericks are spiraling again, and this time it feels like the fallout may reshape their franchise for years. Nine months removed from Nico Harrison’s shocking decision to trade Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas officially ended the Harrison era this week, firing the embattled general manager and signaling a complete reset.
Zach Lowe’s Blockbuster Trade Idea for Anthony Davis
With Cooper Flagg now positioned as the face of the franchise after Dallas lucked into the No. 1 pick, the Mavericks appear ready to move forward with a long-term youth movement, and that includes exploring the future of Anthony Davis.
On the latest episode of The Zach Lowe Show, the Ringer analyst Zach Lowe floated one of the most ambitious trade ideas yet in the aftermath of Dallas’ front-office shakeup: sending Davis to the Philadelphia 76ers in a deal that would bring Paul George to the Mavericks.
Lowe broke down the scenario on his show, noting that Philadelphia is uniquely positioned to take a big swing because of its draft capital and roster construction.
“The Sixers have a Clippers pick that looks pretty interesting,” Lowe said. “Can they squeeze Jared McCain, who is really good but hasn’t played much yet? Then on the other hand, it’s like AD and Embiid. If I’m the Sixers, do I even need to think about the AD-Embiid fit? Or is it more like one relieves the other, and if they play together for an extended period, that’s just gravy?”
Philadelphia is deep, flexible, and might be up for a championship-level upgrade. Dallas, meanwhile, is no longer trying to build a veteran contender. They’re building around Flagg, and any high-level player becomes more of an asset than a cornerstone.
Will the Sixers Consider Pairing Davis With Embiid?
The Sixers are off to a 7–4 start, powered by an elite guard rotation and once again Joel Embiid’s MVP-caliber play (19.7 PPG). Adding Davis would instantly give them the most intimidating defensive frontcourt in basketball.
Davis remains one of the league’s top rim protectors and rebounders when healthy, and pairing him with Embiid would allow Philadelphia to survive stretches where Embiid is sidelined.
Davis could also play at a faster pace than Embiid, giving Nick Nurse the option to toggle between two dramatically different play styles depending on the lineup.
There are risks, of course. Davis’ availability continues to frustrate teams and fans alike. Since joining Dallas in February, he has appeared in only 14 games and is currently sidelined with a calf strain. Last season, it was an adductor injury. Before that, various ankle and foot issues.
Still, in the limited minutes he has played this season, Davis has averaged 20.8 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists, which is a reminder that when he’s upright, he’s still a force.
