NBA Rumors: Mavericks, Anthony Davis, Nuggets, Peyton Watson, Cavs

Mavericks

Within a larger piece on the one-year anniversary of the Luka Doncic shocker, Marc Stein of The Stein Line reports the Mavericks continue to welcome trade inquiries on Anthony Davis ahead of Thursday’s deadline.

That said, there’s no rush. The Mavs are comfortable holding Davis into the offseason, and Stein notes Davis himself prefers that outcome.

Davis, 32, is currently rehabbing ligament damage in his left hand and has appeared in just 29 games since Dallas acquired him last February. Availability remains the concern, not ability.

Stein adds that while Dallas remains open to moving Davis, Daniel Gafford, Klay Thompson, and D’Angelo Russell, the front office has zero appetite to part with Naji Marshall or Max Christie. Those two are viewed as keepers.

Nuggets

Don’t expect fireworks in Denver.

Bennett Durando of the Denver Post writes he would be “shocked” if the Nuggets moved veterans such as Jonas Valanciunas or Cameron Johnson at the deadline. Peyton Watson is also considered off-limits, even with contract challenges looming this summer.

Denver’s focus is more procedural than flashy — trimming salary, getting under the tax, and converting two-way forward Spencer Jones to a standard deal.

Zeke Nnaji is the contract they’d most like to move, but the guaranteed money complicates matters.

Cavaliers 

As we relayed earlier, the Cavs may not be finished.

After acquiring Keon Ellis, Dennis Schroder, and Emanuel Miller in the De’Andre Hunter deal, ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel reports the Cavs remain aggressive.

Per Siegel, Koby Altman is actively shopping Lonzo Ball and injured wing Max Strus. The Hunter trade cut Cleveland’s second-apron overage from $22 million to $13.9 million. Getting out entirely is the goal.

Ball’s $10 million salary (with a matching team option next season) is the clearest lever. Strus, still rehabbing foot surgery and owed $16.66 million next year, has become a little more expendable with Ellis and Schroder now in the fold.

If nothing materializes this week, Strus is expected to be a major offseason name.