NBA trade proposal sends Anthony Davis to Bulls, Coby White and others to Mavs

Another hypothetical trade idea has Anthony Davis heading home to Chicago.

NBA writer Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report sketched out a Bulls–Mavericks blockbuster built around the former No. 1 pick and future Hall of Famer.

Here’s the proposal:

Bulls get:
• Anthony Davis

Mavericks get:
• Nikola Vucevic
• Coby White
• Kevin Huerter
• 2028 first-round pick (top-four protected)
• 2029 first-round pick swap

The thinking from Hughes goes like this: Dallas is expected to explore the Davis market after moving on from former GM Nico Harrison. And Davis, a Chicago native, might welcome a reset after a turbulent 14-game run with the Mavericks.

“AD needs a fresh start, and the Mavs must move on,” Hughes wrote. “Let’s get the Bulls back on track… and let’s also hit refresh on the Mavericks by allowing Davis to escape a hostile environment he had no part in creating.”

The Bulls angle is obvious. Derrick Rose and Dwyane Wade experienced the boost of playing at home. Hughes suggests Davis could do the same.

On the Dallas side, the idea is to retool the roster around Cooper Flagg and future flexibility while addressing the need for another point guard.

Vucevic and White would stabilize the offense, and the picks would give Dallas more options moving forward.

Davis, 32, has appeared in just five games this season due to a left calf strain. In his brief Mavericks stint, he’s averaged 20.3 points and 10.1 rebounds and remains one of the league’s elite two-way forces.

That is, when he can stay on the court. When he does, he carries averages of 24.1 points, 10.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks.

He’s owed $54.1 million this season and $58.5 million next season, with a $62.8 million player option for 2027-28.

Reports suggest that the Mavericks will work with Davis’ camp, led by Klutch Sports’ Rich Paul, as they weigh whether an in-season deal makes sense.

For now, it’s only a hypothetical. But given the noise around Dallas and Davis’ health uncertainty, it’s the kind of idea that may not stay hypothetical for long.

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