NBA Rumors: The championship-contending team that could go after Anthony Davis

Not even leading the Eastern Conference saves the Detroit Pistons from rumors. While the franchise is enjoying its best start in years, the market is once again buzzing with a familiar name: Anthony Davis. The event that triggered it all took place in Dallas. The controversial dismissal of Nico Harrison, former general manager of the Mavericks, has reignited the discussion about the center's future. Harrison was the one who went all-in for Davis, trading Luka Dončić to the Lakers last winter in a move that shook the entire NBA.

His idea was to build around a defensive player with dominant interior presence. However, with Harrison gone, Davis' future in Dallas is once again in doubt. The Mavericks are not going through a good phase. The team is struggling in a more competitive Western Conference than ever, while accumulating big men in the frontcourt and Davis has only played 14 games since his arrival. Injuries are once again affecting his progress: he has only featured in five out of the eleven games at the start of the season.

On Wednesday, Tim MacMahon (ESPN) reported that the new owner of the Mavericks, Patrick Dumont, has requested medical reports to ensure that Davis is not at risk of worsening his left calf injury, which could further delay his comeback.

Amid this uncertainty, Detroit emerges as a potential destination. They have young assets, draft picks, and salary flexibility, enough ingredients to go after a star. However, not everyone in the league sees Davis as the type of player the Pistons should bet on in the long run.

Zach Lowe: "I don't understand how Davis fits in Detroit"

The Ringer journalist, Zach Lowe, addressed the issue in his latest podcast and made his stance clear. While acknowledging that Detroit has the resources for a major trade, he does not believe that Anthony Davis is the right piece for Monty Williams' team. "Another franchise that keeps coming up in all conversations, and I genuinely don't understand why, is Detroit," Lowe said. "I already have Jalen Duren, Isaiah Stewart, one of the top three defenses in the NBA, and the best rim protector in the league. But I have serious shooting problems around Cade Cunningham. I'm not convinced that this is the 'win-now' trade they need."

Lowe went even further: "Do they have the assets for a big move? Sure. But Lauri Markkanen would fit much better in Detroit than Anthony Davis. If I were them, I wouldn't even be interested in this trade."

Despite the reservations, the Pistons appear on the list of potential suitors in The Ringer's article titled "Five Anthony Davis trades that may be crazy enough to work". The proposal is risky: Detroit would send Jaden Ivey, Tobias Harris, Ron Holland, and Isaiah Stewart to Dallas in exchange for Anthony Davis and Klay Thompson.

It would be a high price — four players for two veterans — but it would provide the Pistons with experience and leadership they currently lack. Two champions with playoff DNA on a young team in full swing.

Analyst Matt Dollinger presented the central dilemma: "Is it worth going all-in for him (sorry, Nico), but could the Pistons get him at a more reasonable price? Even without including a draft pick? Are they willing to sacrifice some depth for a star? Or is the atmosphere so positive —9-2 by Wednesday, leaders of the East— that it would be crazy to change anything?"

A Risk or an Opportunity?

The idea of a core consisting of Cade Cunningham, Anthony Davis, Ausar Thompson, and Jalen Duren is appealing. It would be a lineup with defensive presence, physicality, and offensive talent, capable of challenging the rest of the conference. However, it also carries risks: disrupting the chemistry of a young team that seems to have finally found its direction.

For now, Detroit is enjoying the moment. They are the surprise team in the East, with an identity based on defense, energy, and growth. However, the market never stops, and if the Mavericks ultimately decide to showcase Davis, the Pistons will have to decide if it's worth altering a formula that, for the first time in a long while, is working.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Rumores NBA: El equipo candidato al anillo que podría ir a por Anthony Davis