The Dallas Mavericks thought they were reshaping the future last spring when they pulled the stunning trigger: Luka Dončić out, Anthony Davis in. Ten months later, that gamble looks like a slow-motion disaster unraveling in front of the entire league — and a new blockbuster trade proposal has just thrown gasoline on the fire.
Instead of anchoring Dallas’ new era, Davis has spent more time in street clothes than in uniform, stuck on the bench as injuries keep derailing his availability and draining the Mavericks’ hopes. With the team stumbling to a brutal 5–14 start, now sitting second-worst in the Western Conference, national analysts are openly calling for Dallas to blow it up — again.
And Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley has pitched the most headline-grabbing scenario yet:
Anthony Davis shipped to his hometown Chicago Bulls in exchange for Coby White, Kevin Huerter, Zach Collins, a 2030 top-three protected first-round pick, and a 2031 pick swap.
Buckley didn’t hold back in his analysis, saying Mavericks fans might “feel insulted” — but pointing to an uncomfortable truth: AD’s market is shrinking fast. His health concerns, age, and massive contract limit the kind of blockbuster return an injured superstar typically commands.
Still, the proposed package is more interesting than it looks at first glance.
Coby White’s fearlessness, scoring punch, and playmaking could immediately relieve pressure on No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg, giving Dallas a guard who thrives with the ball in his hands. Huerter’s shooting adds spacing the Mavericks are starved for, while Collins — if healthy — offers some degree of two-way versatility to fill out the rotation. And the draft capital? That’s ammunition for Dallas to keep reshaping its future.
But make no mistake:
If Dallas pulls this trigger, it’s a white-flag moment. The rebuild becomes official.
The Mavericks believed they were building a contender, but the reality is far harsher. Their early-season spiral isn’t just bad luck — it’s a structural collapse. They’re already digging out of a massive hole in the standings, and without AD on the floor, the situation now borders on catastrophic.
Meanwhile, the Bulls may be eyeing this moment as the perfect time to reunite Davis with his hometown. Chicago, caught in an identity crisis of its own, could view the move as a reset built around a superstar who — when healthy — is still one of the best two-way forces in basketball. For a franchise desperate for relevance and star power, acquiring AD is the kind of move that electrifies a city overnight.
For Dallas, though, the question is bigger than optics:
Do they cling to a broken timeline, or do they rip off the bandage before it’s too late?
The narrative around the Mavericks has already shifted. Cooper Flagg’s rookie season has been overshadowed by injuries, inconsistency, and chaotic roster construction. Kyrie Irving’s upcoming return will help — but only temporarily. With the front office preparing for hard decisions, the possibility of moving off Kyrie next year or even sooner now sits squarely on the table.
Everything Dallas once banked its future on is suddenly uncertain.
And if this Anthony Davis–to–Chicago deal gains traction, the Mavericks could be staring at another seismic transformation — one that could define the franchise for the next decade.
The question now:
Is this the moment Dallas hits reset… or the beginning of an even deeper collapse?
Leave a Reply