Through no fault of his own, Anthony Davis will forever be remembered as a central part of perhaps the worst trade in NBA history when the Mavericks brought him to Dallas in exchange for Luka Doncic. Now that Mavs governor Patrick Dumont has fired Nico Harrison, the architect of that deal, the organization is ready to move forward.
If that involves trading Davis, Dumont can't possibly hope to get back anything near the price it cost to acquire him.
Given their own franchise's decision-making struggles, that's something that should worry Chicago Bulls fans.
NBA teams like the Bulls may get Anthony Davis for pennies on the dollar
Davis was named one of the 75 greatest players in NBA history. He's been an All-Star in 10 of his 14 seasons and an All-NBA player in five. He's made five All-Defense teams, has led the NBA in blocks three times, has been in the running for Defensive Player of the Year six times and won the 2020 championship with the Lakers.
But Doncic is on a trajectory that could see him finish his career as one of the 20 greatest players of all time. He's also six years younger than Davis, with a game that fits better in the modern NBA. Whatever trade value Davis held, it will never equal that of Luka's.
Unfortunately, that means another blow for Mavs fans. Now that the franchise is treading a different path, another disappointing trade is inevitable.
Theories of a potential link between the Bulls and The Brow have already started to surface. Davis is a Chicago native, and the idea of his career ending where it began holds some sentimental value. And the basketball fit makes sense: Billy Donovan runs an up-tempo offense that works because of continuous ball movement and a depth of scoring options, but his team lacks a true go-to scorer and is desperate for a defensive anchor.
Despite his age and wear and tear, Davis can still get up and down the floor and act as a playmaking hub and iso scorer. He would be an intriguing pick-and-roll partner with Josh Giddey. He remains an elite rim protector and would be a major boost to a defense that struggles mightily to defend the interior.
Trading for Davis would be an awful move for Chicago
The 32-year-old has only played 14 of a possible 45 games in Dallas. He hasn't played since Oct. 29 as he deals with a calf injury. He's also eligible for a contract extension after next season, which he'll surely demand, and it probably won't be a cheap one.
He's on the backside of his career, has a significant injury history that continues to grow, and will cost a solid chunk of change in the near future. That doesn't add up to an in-demand trade asset, and the Mavericks won't be blown away by the offers they get if they make him available.
That puts a team like the Bulls in a good position to acquire Davis on a discount, and there are reasons to believe a move isn't out of the question. Chicago is an organization that prioritizes making money over winning titles; committing to a Davis homecoming would certainly bring in cash. He would bring a superstar name to the Windy City. The Bulls have plenty of cap space to hand Davis an extension if they choose to.
Would a trade be a good basketball move? No. Could it make sense for other reasons? Considering the fact that Chicago wouldn't have to mortgage the future to acquire Davis, absolutely. And that's not a comforting thought for Bulls fans.