Joe Vardon of The Athletic reported Wednesday that Mavericks minority owner Mark Cuban said Dallas will not try to trade Anthony Davis this season.
“We won’t. We want to try to win,” Cuban wrote in an email to The Athletic, and he reiterated that Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont makes final roster decisions while Cuban serves as an adviser.
Davis has played five games this season, averaging 20.8 points, 10.2 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 29.8 minutes per night. The 10-time All-Star is currently sidelined with a strained calf and is expected to remain out for at least another week.
Dallas enters the conversation with a 4-12 record, and the team’s broader context has fueled trade speculation. Tim MacMahon of ESPN reported Dallas planned to gauge league interest ahead of the Feb. 5 trade deadline, but Cuban’s comment appears to quash that immediate market talk.
Financial realities underscore the hold/no-hold decision; Davis is owed $54.1 million this season and another $121.2 million across the following two years. That long-term commitment, plus Davis’ extension eligibility this offseason, complicates any move given the Mavericks are close to the second tax apron.
Dumont’s hands-on role in Davis’ return was noted in background reporting, and Cuban stressed his advisory position while confirming Dumont has final say. That governance dynamic points to organizational continuity rather than an aggressive roster teardown.
On-court considerations also factor into the stance: Davis remains a clear centerpiece around which Dallas can build if he stays healthy. Cooper Flagg (15.5 PPG) and D’Angelo Russell (12.6 PPG, 5.0 APG in 16 games) provide supporting production, but Dallas has shown uneven depth in its 4–12 start.
Cuban’s flat refusal to shop Davis removes a major variable from trade-season chatter and signals the Mavericks’ priority is competing now. With the trade deadline approaching, Dallas looks set to assess progress internally rather than pivot via a blockbuster move.
