Last month, reports started swirling in the Raptors rumor mill about a potential interest in acquiring Dallas Mavericks star Anthony Davis. When he's at his best (and not in “street clothes,” as the NBA community has seemingly dubbed him), Anthony Davis is one of the league’s top defensive big men and a dominant talent at his position. But his health has been a constant issue, haunting him since his days in New Orleans and into his time with the Lakers — and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down now that he's with the Mavs.
Even though the Mavericks pulled off what’s widely considered an all-time trade blunder — swapping superstar Luka Doncic for AD — that confusing winning vision with Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, and their veteran core now feels pretty much out of reach. It seems more likely that Dallas will pivot and focus on building around their new young star, Cooper Flagg. And with that possibility, the Raptors found their name being floated as a potential AD suitor, though it’s not exactly the most consensus trade idea to get Raptors fans fully on board.
In a recent Bleacher Report livestream titled “Trae Young, Lakers, and NBA Star Trade Rumors | Insider Notebook with Jake Fischer,” NBA insider Jake Fischer clarified that Toronto is still involved in the discussions to acquire the injury-riddled 32-year-old, along with the other rumored East suitor: the Atlanta Hawks (who have a polarizing trade candidate of their own in Trae Young).
Raptors continue to be “still involved” in Anthony Davis trade talks
"… we keep hearing Toronto is still involved in AD and there are going to be other teams too that check around on it. I think for now though, just confidently speaking publicly, I think Toronto and Atlanta are still the only teams that we can talk about asJake Fischer, January 6, 2026
confirmed teams that are interested in pursuing Anthony Davis."
Fischer would go on to explain this as the rationale behind the Raptors' potential increased interest (YouTube link here):
"And with Toronto, I think their side of this, their interest, I think only has to grow the longer that Jakob Poeltl is out due to injury and the future of Toronto's frontcourt, both right now and in the long-term, like the future of this season, but also multiple years because Jakob Poeltl signed a four-year deal. What his status and what the Raptors think of him moving forward will be as pertinent to anything with the Raptors' pursuit of any Anthony Davis trade."Jake Fischer contd.
That troublesome thought of Jakob Poeltl possibly heading to play a key role in the AD pursuit is definitely something to consider. Since the Raptors might’ve made a big mistake in extending him, his contract is now on the table as a trade asset. If they can persuade the Mavericks to take on his deal, along with some low-risk draft capital or other expendable pieces, it could actually turn out to be a bit of a blessing for Toronto — especially since Poeltl could be heading his own injury-riddled decline. People have their reasons to be concerned about Davis too, but considering how much of an upgrade he is in terms of star power at that position makes it easier to justify the risk.
Sure, there's that issue of Davis preferring to play at the power forward spot and sharing the floor with true centers, like he did in Dallas with Lively and Gafford. That would be another hurdle for the Raptors to tackle. But I’m sure we’ll get an answer soon enough — whether the Raptors decide to pull off more lateral moves or really go big or go home to add AD.