Parting with 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis, considered one of the best two-way big men in the NBA, has left a significant hole in the lineup ahead of Thursday’s noon PT deadline.

The modern football swap deal with the most parallels is the acrimonious agreement that took Ashley Cole from Arsenal to rivals Chelsea on summer transfer deadline day in 2006, in return for William Gallas and £5m in cash.

The Mavericks made a baffling move, signaling concerns over the 25-year-old point guard’s conditioning as a reason for the blockbuster deal that returned Anthony Davis.