NBA trade proposal sends Mavs’ Anthony Davis to Warriors

ESPN’s Zach Kram floated a bold, multi-team hypothetical that would send Anthony Davis to Golden State, but only at the cost of breaking up one of the most iconic pairings of the modern era.

Here’s how it goes:

Warriors receive:
Anthony Davis
Mason Plumlee

Mavericks receive:
Draymond Green
Jonathan Kuminga
2026 first-round pick (via Warriors)

Lakers receive:
Buddy Hield

Hornets receive:
Maxi Kleber
Dalton Knecht
Cash considerations (via Lakers)

The central question is obvious. Should the Warriors ever split up Stephen Curry and Draymond Green for a swing like this? Kram suggests probably not.

Still, if Golden State continues to struggle with consistency when healthy, the idea becomes at least worth discussing. Davis would give the Warriors the rim-running, interior scoring threat they have lacked for years and would represent a massive offensive upgrade in the pick-and-roll.

Green remains impactful, but he is shooting just 38 percent from the field, his lowest mark since his rookie season. Davis would immediately change how defenses guard Golden State.

The structure also helps financially. Golden State could reroute Buddy Hield, here landing him with the Lakers, who badly need shooting. Charlotte steps in to absorb Maxi Kleber’s expiring deal while finally landing Knecht after a previously rescinded trade attempt.

For Dallas, the appeal is twofold. As ESPN’s Bobby Marks notes, the Mavericks would remain competitive in the West while gaining flexibility through Kuminga’s team option and adding a valuable 2026 first-round pick.

The risk is obvious. If Davis helps lift Golden State back into the upper half of the conference, that pick loses significant value.

Creative, aggressive and chaotic. Exactly the kind of proposal that gets front offices talking, even if it never gets close to happening.