What the Bulls won’t ‘sacrifice’ to trade Anthony Davis to the Mavericks
Rumors swirled recently about Chicago Bulls‘ potential acquisition of Anthony Davis in a trade. Currently, Davis is playing his first full season with the Dallas Mavericks following the famous trade with the LA Lakers, who sent Luka Doncic to the Lakers last February.
Right now, the Bulls have a young core they want to build around, which includes Coby White, Josh Giddeiand Matas Buzelis. Additionally, they see French rookie Noah Essenge, the 12th pick in the 2025 NBA draft, gradually cementing his place among that core.
As a result, the Bulls hope to round out that core by bringing in players of Davis’ caliber, specifically to shore up Chicago’s defense.
However, Taurus they are not willing to take a chance at this point, according to Jamal Collier of ESPN. According to team sources, Chicago will not release any of its core players to make room for Davis, at least until they become a contending team.
“I don’t think going out and chasing the X megastar is the way to go – at least today,” one source told ESPN.
Right now, the Bulls could trade around five first and second round draft picks and still have $70 million in cap space next year. They also own all of their first-round draft picks for the next seven years.
Pros and cons of Anthony Davis joining the Bulls
On the plus side, Davis brings a wide array of skills to Chicago. He is an elite defender and excels at protecting the rim. Additionally, he can score effectively and can be a good partner for the likes of Giddei in pick-and-rolls.
Furthermore, Davis is a veteran leader with championship experience. Additionally, he is a native of Chicago along with Buzzellis, Aio Dosunmuand Jevon Carter.
On the other hand, Davis brings some baggage and vulnerability. He has a history of injuries like evident by his recent calf injuryand. Also, he played more than 56 games just once during the 2019-2020 season.
Besides, it’s not cheap. Davis has an annual salary of $60 million, which would put Chicago in a position to trade young players and radically adjust their finances to accommodate him.
2025-12-01 16:03:00
