The Dallas Mavericks have opened the 2025-26 regular season with a record of just 4-12, and rival executives reportedly believe the team will trade away key pieces in preparation for a full rebuild.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, the Mavericks are currently 13th in the Western Conference standings and have little control over future draft capital, with the franchise holding its own 2026 first-round selection before years of pick swaps and traded away selections.
The level of uncertainty, combined with the struggles by the current roster, has led many to believe the franchise will look into trading away key veterans, including one rival executive who told the Dallas Hoops Journal that he believes the Mavericks will consider trading away D’Angelo Russell, Daniel Gafford, Anthony Davis, and Klay Thompson.
Dallas recently chose to fire general manager Nico Harrison and could be looking to reinvent the overall roster, with those four players unlikely to remain with the team long term.
Russell signed a two-year contract worth $13 million with the Mavericks in the offseason, with the team being able to trade the guard beginning on December 15.
While Russell is one of the few ball handlers on the Mavericks roster, the combination of his age, skillset, and contract could allow the Mavericks to receive draft capital from a team that is looking to add more shooting and playmaking.
Additionally, Gafford signed a three-year contract worth $54 million during the offseason, with his skill set being among the most valuable in the NBA.
Gafford is signed long-term and is one of the few players in the league who can defend at a high level while also being a strong finisher at the rim, which are two invaluable skill sets for teams looking to compete at a high level.
Meanwhile, Thompson and Davis are both over 32 years old and are unlikely to participate in a full rebuild, with both players expected to generate interest from championship contenders on the trade market.
Although both players hold significant contracts for both this season and next, at minimum, teams looking to compete for a championship in the next two seasons could be willing to part with younger players in exchange for increased championship odds.
Despite the expected trade interest, Mavericks minority owner Mark Cuban has stated that the team will not try to trade Davis this season.
“We won’t. We want to try to win,” wrote Cuban in an email sent to The Athletic.
Cuban’s email has seemingly calmed the storm in regard to Davis’s trade potential, though he has remained silent about whether other players could be on the trade block.
Luckily, the Mavericks have some time to make official decisions about each of these players.
The NBA trade deadline is not until February 5, meaning Dallas has over two months to continue evaluating the team and deciding whether players should remain on the roster for the remainder of the 2025-26 season.