The Dallas Mavericks have struggled out of the gate, sitting at 6-15 as of Monday, and recently fired GM Nico Harrison amid fallout from last season’s blockbuster trade that sent franchise cornerstone Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers.
With the team’s future in question, the organization has said it will explore the trade market for several players, including Anthony Davis, whom the Mavericks acquired in the deal for Doncic.
While several teams have since been linked to the 10-time NBA All-Star, the situation took a turn on Monday when ESPN’s Jamal Collier reported that the Chicago Bulls “have had internal discussions” about trading for Davis.
Collier noted the Bulls believe Davis “could help the team’s porous rim protection and defensive interior” and that “Davis is from Chicago, and the Bulls have three players on the roster (Ayo Dosunmu, Jevon Carter, and Buzelis) who grew up in the area, which is not a coincidence.”
“However, team sources said the Bulls will not sacrifice any of their young core to execute such a deal until the team is closer to contention,” Collier wrote. “‘I don’t think going out and chasing X megastar is the way to proceed — at least today,’ one source told ESPN.”
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Though the Mavs have been struggling this season, Davis remains one of the NBA’s premier two-way players and interior defenders.
He is a 10‑time NBA All‑Star, a five‑time All‑NBA honoree, a five‑time All‑Defensive Team selection, a three‑time NBA blocks leader, and an NBA champion with the Lakers in 2020.
At 32 years old, he has been limited to just six games this year due to lower-body issues, but remains impactful when healthy, averaging 19.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.5 blocks, and 1.3 steals in 29.7 minutes per game.
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Davis is in year one of a three-year, $175.3 million deal (fully guaranteed), which features an average annual salary of around $58.4 million and a 2025 cap hit of $54.1 million.
In August, he will be eligible to sign a four-year, $275 million extension, which would pay him $76 million by the time he turns 37.
As a result, any team considering him would be buying elite impact at a premium — and recent reports suggests Davis’ representatives may seek further guarantees should he change teams, which would narrow suitors.
The Bulls allow among the most opponent points-in-the-paint in the league and lack consistent rim protection, which makes targeting Davis a logical move in theory.
However, Chicago also reportedly values long-term draft capital and cap flexibility, and doesn’t want to dismantle its young core, a clear restraint for any blockbuster swap.