The Chicago Bulls have been considered an interesting team to potentially acquire Anthony Davis via a blockbuster trade by the trade deadline. Nico Harrison getting fired by the Dallas Mavericks basically confirmed the team would trade Davis and others this season. Hopes of remaining competitive until Kyrie Irving returned from injury to contend for an NBA Championship ended within weeks.
Chicago’s hot start made them look like a playoff team that could benefit from adding Davis as a star player and a hometown favorite. However, NBA reporter Marc Stein is reporting that the Bulls currently have no interest in making a big move for Davis:
“There has been no evidence to date to suggest that the Bulls plan to act upon persistent speculation that they harbor trade interest in Mavericks big man (and Chicago native) Anthony Davis.”
Online speculation about this fit has come from outside parties thinking the move would make sense on paper. Chicago’s decline in recent weeks sees them competing for a play-in spot rather than having a realistic path at a guaranteed top six playoff seed. This likely shuts the door on adding a big name on a max contract.
Bulls Favor Others Over Anthony Davis
The same report from Stein confirms that the Bulls have more interest in acquiring Jonathan Kuminga from the Golden State Warriors. Chicago is clearly hoping to acquire younger talents with upside over aging veterans that have injury issues. One Davis injury essentially ruins it for the Bulls and makes them look terrible if they trade for him.
Kuminga and other risky younger pieces have less at stake with shorter contracts and smaller salaries. Chicago recently committing to veterans like Nikola Vucevic and DeMar DeRozan didn’t lead to any playoff series victories for the franchise yet to make the NBA Finals since Michael Jordan led them in 1998.
Expect the Bulls to make smaller moves that send their older players to other teams for lottery ticket acquisitions hoping to have best-case results. Josh Giddey didn’t have much hype when Chicago traded for him, but he’s currently considered their top building block for the future just two seasons into his tenure.
Who Will Trade For Anthony Davis?
Dallas’ situation looks terrible since the aging players they can trade hold little value. Opposing teams would like Klay Thompson’s three-point shooting skills and experience of winning at the highest level, but the Mavericks are not expected to get anything great in a trade for him at his current age.
Davis missing many games this season and constantly having injury issues limits the trade package that Dallas would ask for an All-Star talent. The Toronto Raptors, Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks have reported interest in making an offer for Davis closer to the deadline.
All three teams have varying levels of success right now that requires another move or two to truly move into title contention. Davis would help, but the Mavericks will likely have to settle for expiring contracts and hope to get one young piece or multiple draft picks. Chicago not being involved removes one hopeful suitor that no longer seems viable.
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