Mavericks Predicted to Cut Ties With Anthony Davis to Land $60,000,000 Star in Stunning Trade
The Dallas Mavericks are staring at a season that has drifted far from what the front office envisioned just months ago. A blockbuster roster built around veterans like Anthony Davis and Klay Thompson hasn’t delivered results, and the team’s direction has shifted dramatically in recent weeks.
As the franchise re-evaluates what it wants to be and who it wants to build around, Davis, one of the NBA’s biggest names, has suddenly become the center of league-wide conversation. And the early trade chatter is already painting a surprising picture.
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Chicago Bulls Emerges as the Clearest Trade Partner for Davis
Davis arrived in Dallas as a franchise-altering centerpiece, but the experiment has fallen short of expectations. Statistically, he’s still elite — averaging 19.3 points and 9.3 rebounds on 52.9% shooting. Yet his availability has remained the biggest hurdle. He has played just 15 games so far for the Mavs, leaving the team without consistency and the stability they expected from their All-NBA big man.
The fallout has already begun.
Dallas fired longtime general manager Nico Harrison and has shifted its attention to a rebuild around rookie Cooper Flagg. That pivot has triggered a wave of speculation about whether the franchise will move Davis before things compound even further. Nothing formal is in motion yet, but the marketplace is forming, and one destination continues to check every box.
If Davis becomes available, the Chicago Bulls are a logical suitor. They have the motivation, the roster flexibility, and the assets to structure a deal that benefits both sides. One scenario standing out is trading Anthony Davis for Nikola Vučević, Kevin Huerter, and Coby White, with draft picks added.
For the Mavs, the return creates immediate depth, salary relief, and a workable roster around Flagg during a soft rebuild.
For the Bulls, the move is even more compelling. The franchise has desperately lacked a defensive anchor, and Davis, a hometown star, instantly gives them an identity they’ve been chasing for years.
Vučević, who signed a three-year, $60 million contract, is in the final season of that deal. His production remains strong, averaging 16.4 points and 9.8 rebounds while shooting 49%.
Why the Bulls Might Take the Swing for Davis
The Bulls are 9–10, stuck in the NBA’s worst place: competitive enough to win games, but not good enough to contend. Adding Davis gives them instant rim protection, All-Star offense, and credibility next to a young core that thrives in an uptempo system.
Coach Billy Donovan would need to convince Davis to play the majority of his minutes at center, which has always been a point of resistance for Davis, but the basketball fit is clean. With proper spacing and pace, Davis projects as a top-10 defensive anchor and a stabilizer for a team starving for one.
For the Mavs, the reasons are different but just as clear. The Mavericks are 6–15, spiraling, and looking for a clean financial slate. Vučević’s expiring $21.5 million contract gives them cap flexibility after the season. Huerter and White add shooting and playmaking around Flagg without long-term obligations that tie up plans.
Davis still projects as a franchise-level big when healthy, and that alone means his market won’t be quiet. The Bulls will not be the only bidder if Davis ultimately becomes available, but for them, he makes the most practical sense.
For the Mavericks, whether they embrace the rebuild fully or attempt to retool around Flagg and veterans will determine how quickly this conversation turns from rumor into reality.
