With the Sacramento Kings on the precipice of a major rebuild, virtually any trade is possible. Hopefully, sending Domantas Sabonis to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Anthony Davis is not one of them. Why? Because paying an injured All-Star to sit on the bench isn't fixing anything.
One of the few teams in the league that is having a worse season than the Kings is the Mavericks. After their front office's insane decision to trade Luka Doncic to the Lakers for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and one draft pick, it's been nothing but a horror show in Dallas.
Kyrie Irving has been out injured since just after the trade. Anthony Davis has been injured for the bulk of his time with the Mavericks. They caught a lucky bounce and drafted the number one pick, Cooper Flagg, but it takes more than a single top rookie to save a sinking ship.
The Mavericks have a record of three and ten, and sit in the 14th spot in the Western Conference. They're one place behind the Kings. And much like the Kings, the Mavs are in desperate need of a rebuild, and their situation is likely to get much worse before it gets better on that path.
Kings need to avoid trading with the Mavericks
One of the players on Dallas who is already rumored to be shopped around is Anthony Davis. Between his college and NBA careers, he has a list of accomplishments, awards, and honors that will undoubtedly ensure his place in the Hall of Fame when the time is right.
No one doubts the caliber of player Davis is. The man is a monster on offense as well as being a legendary defender. Unfortunately, he's also legendarily injury-prone, a major issue that has only gotten worse in recent years. It's hard to imagine that's going to get better as he ages.
With Davis on the market and the Kings potentially looking to trade Domantas Sabonis, there's an incredibly tempting move here for Sacramento. Davis is a defensive-minded center who can score and facilitate, and that is exactly the type of player the Kings need.
What they don't need is a center who is chronically injured and is on the wrong side of 30. Sacramento has to be looking for younger, more durable players who can be an active part of this rebuild in the long term. The Mavericks are likely thinking something similar about Davis.