The Dallas Mavericks are poking at a blockbuster. The twist? It hinges less on the player and more on one very special draft pick held by a rival.

League chatter has the target out in the open: it’s Anthony Davis. Multiple reports say Dallas has been working trade ideas around the star big man, and in several versions, the only way a deal makes sense is if they can pry the Atlanta Hawks’ unprotected 2026 first-round pick — originally from the New Orleans Pelicans — into their hands.

As veteran reporter Chris Mannix put it, “I can tell you with certainty that the Mavericks have been trying to pry away that New Orleans Pelicans pick away from the Hawks for some time now. That has been on the mind of the Mavericks’ front office for some time now.” The interest is not new. The timing, with the trade deadline closing in, only sharpens the stakes.

Why the Pelicans’ 2026 pick is the hinge

This is not just any future first. The Hawks own the Pelicans’ unprotected 2026 pick. Current projections give that selection the second-best odds to land No. 1 overall in the 2026 NBA Draft. That possibility turns the pick into gold.

Dallas believes the pick can shape a rebuild-on-the-fly. The Mavericks also own their own 2026 first. Landing the Atlanta-held Pelicans pick would give them two bites at the top of a draft that could deliver a franchise-changer. That is why the pick sits at the center of every big idea the team is exploring.

“Are the Mavs really betting the future on a Pelicans pick?”

The Anthony Davis trade puzzle, explained

Here’s the maze: Dallas has looked at two paths around an Anthony Davis trade, per ongoing reports. One is as a direct suitor for Davis. The other is as a facilitator in a multi-team setup where Davis lands in Atlanta. In both lanes, Dallas’ priority is the same — come away with the Hawks’ Pelicans pick.

There are hurdles. Davis would need to sign off on any move. He is under contract for two more years and holds a player option worth about $62 million for 2026–27. He has also been seeking an extension this offseason. Reporting indicates the Mavericks are not going to offer that extension as Davis moves into his mid-30s. That makes a direct Dallas landing spot trickier, and it puts more weight on the pick-focused, multi-team path.

Atlanta’s stance: Zaccharie Risacher and risk tolerance

The Hawks are not eager to part with the Pelicans pick. They’re even less eager to touch Zaccharie Risacher, the No. 1 overall pick in 2024 and a key piece of their long-term plan. As Marc Stein framed it, Atlanta does not believe an in-season swing for Davis meets the right parameters when it comes to Risacher.

For the Hawks, giving up the Pelicans’ unprotected 2026 pick now risks losing a potential top pick in what could be a very strong draft. That is the standstill: Dallas needs that asset to justify helping (or pursuing) an AD deal; Atlanta wants to keep it and see where the odds take them.

“If AD wants an extension, Dallas should walk away.”

Dallas’ front office goals and the Cooper Flagg dream

The Mavericks’ leadership has shifted, with Nico Harrison out and an interim tandem of Matt Riccardi and Michael Finley in charge. Their focus, per reporting, is future-facing. Dallas owns its 2026 first. Add the Atlanta-held Pelicans pick, and the club could walk into that draft with two strong lottery swings.

Why 2026? It’s the year many around the league expect a top-tier prospect at the very top — the kind of player you can build around. Cooper Flagg is the name that comes up most in fan circles. Dallas knows two lottery tickets are better than one if that is the prize pool.

Contract math and leverage: Davis’ position

Davis still carries major star power. But the math matters. Two years left, a massive option in 2026–27, and an extension request this summer change the risk profile for any buyer. Reports say Dallas won’t be the team to hand out that extension, which explains why their push seems to center on the pick rather than a full-speed chase for AD himself.

If Davis must approve any move, he also has soft leverage. He can steer talks toward a team and timeline he likes, which is another reason this could spill past the deadline and into June and July.

“The Hawks holding that Pelicans pick is the real power play.”

Deadline vs. offseason: when this could pop

Don’t be shocked if nothing major breaks by the Feb. 5 buzzer. Atlanta’s stance is firm for now. Dallas, described as having a disappointing, injury-hit season, can afford to wait if the payoff is a second likely lottery pick next summer. And Davis’ own stance — needing to approve a move and seeking an extension — tends to push talks into the offseason when cap sheets and patience open up.

Other teams, like the Warriors, have been mentioned on the fringes, but the central tug-of-war sits between Dallas’ desire for that Pelicans pick and Atlanta’s refusal to let it go. Until one side blinks, this story will live in the rumor mill.

What it all means now

For Dallas, the mission is clear: acquire the Hawks’ unprotected Pelicans 2026 pick, even if it takes a three-team Anthony Davis trade to get there. For Atlanta, the question is simple: do you trade a chance at No. 1 in 2026 for Davis today? And for Davis, it’s about timing, health, and money. Approve a move now or wait for a summer sweepstakes.

One thing is certain: that one pick is holding a lot of power. If the Hawks ever put it on the table, the entire board could shift in a hurry.