Anthony Davis trade proposal brings Mavericks star home to Bulls
Trade Proposal Sends Anthony Davis to Chicago in Blockbuster Homecoming Deal
The Dallas Mavericks are at a crossroads. Just ten months after the franchise-altering blockbuster that sent Luka Dončić away in exchange for Anthony Davis, the experiment appears to be unraveling. With Dallas stumbling to a 6-15 start and General Manager Nico Harrison recently relieved of his duties, the organization faces immense pressure to pivot. A new trade proposal from Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley offers a potential escape hatch, one that would send Davis back to his hometown of Chicago in a deal that reshapes the future for both franchises.
The proposed framework sees the Bulls acquiring the eight-time All-Star to anchor their frontcourt. In return, the Mavericks would receive guard Coby White, sharpshooter Kevin Huerter, big man Zach Collins, a top-three protected 2030 first-round pick, and a 2031 pick swap.
For Dallas, this move signals a full commitment to rookie sensation Cooper Flagg. The Davis era has been marred by unavailability; the star big man has appeared in just 15 games since his arrival and only six times this season due to lingering calf issues. By moving off Davis’s $54.1 million salary, the Mavericks acquire a dynamic playmaker in White—who has found himself in a crowded backcourt rotation in Chicago—and recoup vital draft capital to build around Flagg’s timeline.
From the Bulls' perspective, the deal is a swing for the fences. Despite a mediocre 9-10 record, Chicago’s front office has remained adamant about "building while competing." Bringing Davis home provides the franchise with the legitimate two-way superstar they have lacked since the Derrick Rose era. While parting with White and draft assets is steep, the opportunity to pair a motivated Davis with Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis could elevate Chicago from play-in purgatory to a legitimate threat in the Eastern Conference.
With the February trade deadline approaching and the Mavericks desperate for a new direction under interim management, this homecoming scenario is quickly moving from internet speculation to a logical solution for two teams stuck in the middle.
The Dallas Mavericks are at a crossroads. Just ten months after the franchise-altering blockbuster that sent Luka Dončić away in exchange for Anthony Davis, the experiment appears to be unraveling. With Dallas stumbling to a 6-15 start and General Manager Nico Harrison recently relieved of his duties, the organization faces immense pressure to pivot. A new trade proposal from Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley offers a potential escape hatch, one that would send Davis back to his hometown of Chicago in a deal that reshapes the future for both franchises.
The proposed framework sees the Bulls acquiring the eight-time All-Star to anchor their frontcourt. In return, the Mavericks would receive guard Coby White, sharpshooter Kevin Huerter, big man Zach Collins, a top-three protected 2030 first-round pick, and a 2031 pick swap.
For Dallas, this move signals a full commitment to rookie sensation Cooper Flagg. The Davis era has been marred by unavailability; the star big man has appeared in just 15 games since his arrival and only six times this season due to lingering calf issues. By moving off Davis’s $54.1 million salary, the Mavericks acquire a dynamic playmaker in White—who has found himself in a crowded backcourt rotation in Chicago—and recoup vital draft capital to build around Flagg’s timeline.
From the Bulls' perspective, the deal is a swing for the fences. Despite a mediocre 9-10 record, Chicago’s front office has remained adamant about "building while competing." Bringing Davis home provides the franchise with the legitimate two-way superstar they have lacked since the Derrick Rose era. While parting with White and draft assets is steep, the opportunity to pair a motivated Davis with Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis could elevate Chicago from play-in purgatory to a legitimate threat in the Eastern Conference.
With the February trade deadline approaching and the Mavericks desperate for a new direction under interim management, this homecoming scenario is quickly moving from internet speculation to a logical solution for two teams stuck in the middle.
