Why the Anthony Davis to the Warriors Rumors Are Completely Ridiculous

Here we go again. Welcome to another edition of “Let’s Make Up a Completely Bonkers NBA Trade Rumor and Watch the Internet Lose Its Mind.” The latest piece of fan fiction to grace our screens involves Anthony Davis packing his bags and heading up to the Bay Area to join Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors.

It’s the kind of trade you’d cook up in NBA 2K after turning off the salary cap and trade logic. Fun to imagine? Sure. Realistic? Not even close. And yet, here we are, having to explain why this blockbuster deal has “zero truth” to it, as one NBA insider so bluntly put it. Let’s dive into the absurdity and break down why you have a better chance of suiting up for the Lakers yourself than seeing Anthony Davis in a Warriors jersey this season.

Is Anthony Davis on the Trade Block?

First things first, let’s address the elephant in the room. Are the Mavericks even looking to trade Anthony Davis? He’s a perennial All-Star, a defensive anchor, and one of the most skilled big men in the league. While his injury history is longer than a CVS receipt, when he’s on the court, he’s a force. Teams don’t just give away players of his caliber, especially not mid-season. The Mavericks, despite any struggles, aren’t in fire-sale mode. Trading away your best big man would be a masterclass in hitting the self-destruct button. So, the premise itself is shaky at best. There is absolutely no indication from the Mavericks’ camp that they are even listening to offers for Davis.

Breaking Down the Financial Nightmare of a Davis Trade

Okay, let’s suspend our disbelief for a moment and pretend the Mavericks actually want to ship Davis out. How on earth would the Warriors make the money work? This isn’t like trading a couple of role-players. Anthony Davis is carrying a contract that would make most billionaires blush. He’s earning a cool $54.1 million this season, with that number climbing to a staggering $62.7 million by the 2027-28 season. The Warriors are already drowning in luxury tax penalties; taking on Davis’s contract would be like trying to put out a fire with a gallon of gasoline.

To even get close to matching salaries, Golden State would have to gut its roster. We’re talking about sending out major players. The obvious candidates would be Draymond Green or Jimmy Butler. But here’s the kicker: the Warriors’ front office has already made it clear that Green is the heart and soul of the team and basically untouchable. They wouldn’t even include him in talks for a younger superstar like Giannis Antetokounmpo, so why would they do it for an older, more injury-prone Davis? It just doesn’t make sense.

That leaves Jimmy Butler. But let’s be real, what team is clamoring to take on an aging, injury-prone veteran with a massive contract of his own? It’s a classic case of trying to trade one problem for another. No team, including Dallas, would see that as an appealing swap.

What Would the Warriors Even Give Up?

Even if, by some miracle, the salary situation was sorted, what assets could the Warriors offer? The Mavericks wouldn’t just take back matching salaries; they’d want a treasure trove of young talent and draft picks. The Warriors’ pool of attractive young players isn’t exactly deep. While Brandin Podziemski has shown flashes of brilliance and is a valuable piece, he alone isn’t enough to headline a trade for a superstar like Anthony Davis.

Golden State would have to throw in multiple first-round picks, pick swaps, and probably another young player just to get the Mavericks to pick up the phone. For a team that is trying to win now while also building for the future, mortgaging that future for an older, expensive, and injury-riddled star seems like a spectacularly bad idea. It’s the kind of move that could set the franchise back for years once the Curry era ends.

So, while it’s fun to daydream about a lineup featuring Steph Curry and Anthony Davis, it’s time to come back to reality. The financial hurdles are too high, the trade assets aren’t there, and the entire premise is built on a rumor with absolutely no substance. The Warriors need to make a move, yes, but this isn’t it. Not now, not ever.