NBA trade proposal sends Mavericks’ Anthony Davis to Raptors, Daniel Gafford to Pacers

ESPN’s Zach Kram floated another major hypothetical involving Anthony Davis, this time sending the All-Star big man north of the border.

Here’s how the deal is laid out:

Raptors get:
Anthony Davis
Tony Bradley

Mavericks get:
RJ Barrett
Jakob Poeltl
Jarace Walker
Ochai Agbaji
2026 first-round pick (via Raptors)
2027 first-round pick (via Pacers, top-14 protected)

Pacers get:
Daniel Gafford

Kram notes that Toronto has been among the league’s most aggressive teams at recent trade deadlines, having already moved first-round picks for players such as Thaddeus Young, Jakob Poeltl, Kelly Olynyk and Brandon Ingram.

The thinking here is simple. If the Raptors are willing to spend assets, why not go all the way for a true star?

From Toronto’s side, pairing RJ Barrett and Poeltl is the cleanest way to match Davis’ salary, even if it means taking a hit on the wing. Davis would immediately become the franchise centerpiece and change the team’s ceiling overnight.

Dallas, meanwhile, would gain a younger wing in Barrett, a reliable but pricey center in Poeltl, and two recent lottery picks in Walker and Agbaji. Kram suggests a change of scenery could help both young wings, while the added draft capital gives the Mavericks flexibility moving forward.

Indiana’s involvement centers on its post-Myles Turner plans. According to Kram, Daniel Gafford would give the Pacers a rim-running option to pair with stretch big Jay Huff.

As Kram points out, the unprotected future pick is the real swing piece here. Even with Davis, there’s no guarantee Toronto becomes a top-six team in the East. That uncertainty is exactly what makes this proposal so intriguing.