The Chicago Bulls have officially shown interest in trading for Anthony Davis, and this is definitely a deal that could intrigue both sides as the February 5 trade deadline approaches. The possibility of Davis being traded has seemed likely since the Dallas Mavericks fired Nico Harrison, and the trade rumors are starting to heat up.
“The Bulls have had internal discussions about how to proceed, including conversations about Dallas Mavericks star Anthony Davis,” Jamal Collier of ESPN reported. “Whom they believe could help the team’s porous rim protection and defensive interior.”
The Bulls are the first rumored team to be interested in trading for Davis, and Mavericks fans definitely have something to keep an eye on over the next few weeks. For Dallas, Chicago should be a dream destination for Davis. They have first-round picks, young talent, and expiring contracts to give up, and this rumor truly emerged at the perfect time.
Bulls are officially in the hunt for Anthony Davis
Davis heading to Chicago has been speculated about for some time, as Davis is from Chicago, and the Bulls desperately need a veteran superstar to pair with their young core to get over the hump. Mavericks fans have been interested in the possibility of Dallas moving Davis to the Bulls due to the potential of landing Coby White in this deal, and they may just get their wish if these trade talks heat up.
For Dallas, trading Davis to Chicago makes perfect sense.
In a potential deal, the Mavericks could push for expiring contracts to free up cap space (Nikola Vucevic and or Kevin Huerter), a young player to add to their core, and some draft compensation. The Bulls own all of their first-round picks for the next seven years, giving Dallas the chance to acquire serious draft capital if they play ball with Chicago.
This isn’t to say that Davis is going to net a massive, franchise-altering haul, but the Bulls could be convinced to give up White and draft picks if they believe that Davis will make them contenders in the Eastern Conference. Chicago likely needs to string together some more wins and climb the standings before they make a blockbuster trade, but the fact that they are already eyeing Davis is interesting.
The Bulls love their Chicago-raised players, as Jevon Carter, Ayo Dosunmu, and Matas Buzelis are all current players who grew up in the area, and adding Davis to this mix could be the juice they need to escape this rebuild. Davis is one of the best bigs in the league when he’s at his best, and the next two months will be pivotal when it comes to his trade market.
Teams won’t want to give up the farm if Davis isn’t playing well, but if Davis is playing at an elite level and the Bulls are winning games, it seems probable that a trade for him could become more appealing for both sides.
On top of the potential trade return, this move would also keep Davis in the East. Trading players within your conference is always a major risk, and Davis heading to Chicago would help balance the power more in the Eastern Conference.
The trade market for Davis should heat up as time goes on, and the Mavericks could have a mini bidding war on their hands if he plays like one of the best bigs in the Western Conference over the next few weeks. He just returned from a 14-game absence due to a calf strain, and him proving that he can stay healthy and play at an All-Star level will be essential for Dallas to get the best possible return for him.
The Bulls’ compilation of young talent, draft capital, and expiring contracts should have the Mavs all over a potential trade to send him to Chicago, and the next weeks should reveal if this chatter is just whisper or real smoke.
