NBA Rumors: The megatrade that would bring Anthony Davis to the New York Knicks

Now that the Dallas Mavericks have once again become a disaster, trade rumors regarding Anthony Davis are resurfacing strongly. With Nico Harrison —the one responsible for bringing him to Dallas— now out of the organization, it is assumed that moving AD will be the franchise's next big move at some point this season.

The three-team trade proposal that would send Anthony Davis to the Knicks

A three-team operation proposed by Eric Pincus (Bleacher Report) would send Davis to the New York Knicks. The trade would be structured as follows:

New York Knicks receive:

• Anthony Davis (from the Mavericks)

• Jaden Hardy (from the Mavericks)

• Brandon Williams (from the Mavericks)

• Dante Exum (from the Mavericks)

• Rights to Vanja Marinković (No. 60 pick in the 2019 Draft, via Brooklyn Nets)

• $2.8 million trade exception (Dadiet)

• $2.2 million trade exception (Kolek)

Dallas Mavericks receive:

• Karl-Anthony Towns (from the Knicks)

• Guerschon Yabusele (from the Knicks)

• Tyler Kolek (from the Knicks)

• Pacôme Dadiet (from the Knicks)

• Ariel Hukporti (from the Knicks)

• $4 million trade exception (Dwight Powell)

Brooklyn Nets receive:

• Dwight Powell (from the Mavericks)

• $5 million (from the Mavericks)

• 2027 Second-round pick (from the Knicks)

Would the Knicks accept such a trade?

The key question is whether the Knicks would be willing to part ways with Karl-Anthony Towns' consistent production (20 points and 12 rebounds on average) to bet on Davis and his elite defense, trusting that he will be available when it matters most.

According to Pincus, AD's defense could be the deciding factor: “Mike Brown (the Knicks' new coach) built his reputation as a defense-first coach who has adapted somewhat to modern offensive philosophies. Still, the combination of Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson could be an unsolvable defensive issue. The offensive talent is undeniable, but can the Knicks win at the highest level trying to defend direct screens with these two?" Pincus suggests that New York would be a much more competitive team in the playoffs with Davis at the core of the project.

From Dallas' perspective, the trade represents the beginning of a full reconstruction around the number one pick in the upcoming draft, Cooper Flagg. Although Towns is an elite offensive cornerstone, his defense is weak, and at 30 years old, he is not ideally timed to accompany the young prospect's development.

Tim MacMahon, on the Hoops Collective podcast, even suggests that they should seriously consider also trading Kyrie Irving and tanking in the rankings this year. As Pincus points out: “The reality is that there is no Dončić-like return on the horizon for Davis, due to his age and injury history.”

Brooklyn, also in a reconstruction phase, participates thanks to its salary cap space. In exchange, they receive some money and a 2027 second-round pick, aligning with their asset accumulation phase.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Rumores NBA: El megatraspaso que llevaría a Anthony Davis a los New York Knicks