The NBA landscape in the 2025-26 season has flipped the script on preseason expectations in ways few could have predicted. As of late November, the Chicago Bulls sit comfortably above .500 in the Eastern Conference standings, riding a hot start fueled by a balanced attack and timely contributions from young stars like Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis. Meanwhile, the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Clippers—teams once pegged as Western Conference contenders—are mired near the bottom of the league, grappling with injuries, underperformance, and the harsh realities of a rebuild. With the trade deadline looming on February 5, 2026, whispers of a seismic three-team blockbuster are growing louder, one that could see the Bulls swoop in to “boot out” the Mavericks and Clippers, claiming their prized superstar: Anthony Davis.
This isn’t just idle speculation. It’s a deal that aligns with the Bulls’ aggressive push for contention, Dallas’s pivot toward a youth movement anchored by No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg, and the Clippers’ desperate need for cap relief and draft capital. If executed, it would upend the power balance, transforming Chicago into an instant title favorite while accelerating rebuilds in Dallas and LA. Let’s break it down.
The Strange State of the League: Bulls Rising, West Falling
Entering the season, oddsmakers projected the Bulls for a middling .500 record, a far cry from the playoff aspirations of the Mavericks (bolstered by Luka Dončić’s presence pre-trade) and Clippers (with their star-laden core). Fast forward to today: Chicago has cooled slightly after a blistering October but remains a playoff threat, boasting the East’s third-best defensive rating and a versatile frontcourt led by Nikola Vucevic. Their recent 130-127 win over the Denver Nuggets in NBA Cup play underscores their resilience.
Contrast that with Dallas and LA. The Mavericks, now 3-9 and second-to-last in the West, are reeling from the summer’s infamous Luka Dončić-for-Anthony Davis swap—a move that backfired spectacularly under former GM Nico Harrison, who was fired on November 11. Davis, the centerpiece of that deal, has been sidelined with a nagging calf injury since late October, playing in just 14 of 44 possible games and missing the last seven. Kyrie Irving’s absence has only compounded the misery, leaving a roster that’s offensively anemic (104.6 rating, worst in the league).
The Clippers fare little better at 4-8, plagued by a wave of injuries to key pieces like Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. Owed their 2025 first-round pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder, they’re hemorrhaging cap space and motivation, with James Harden’s expiring contract becoming more of a liability than an asset. As standings from ESPN and NBA.com confirm, both teams are lottery-bound, forcing tough conversations about selling off talent before the deadline.
Enter Cooper Flagg: Dallas’s Rebuild Catalyst
Drafted No. 1 overall by the Mavericks in June 2025, Cooper Flagg was supposed to be the missing piece in Dallas’s championship puzzle—a 6’9″ forward with elite defensive versatility, averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game in his lone Duke season. But with the team’s dismal start, new management—advised by minority owner Mark Cuban, who’s pushing to retain Davis for a “win-now” mentality—must weigh short-term pain against long-term gain. Cuban recently told The Athletic, “We want to try to win,” but reports from ESPN indicate Dallas is quietly exploring trades for Davis to shed his massive contract and build around Flagg.
Flagg, already showing flashes of stardom with his motor and perimeter defense, represents a clean-slate future. Trading Davis could net the picks and expiring deals needed to surround him with cost-controlled talent, echoing popular mock drafts that positioned him as a foundational franchise player.
The Bulls’ Ambition: From Re-Tool to All-In
Chicago, under Artūras Karnišovas, has quietly assembled a contender. Giddey’s playmaking has meshed beautifully with a traditional lead guard in Tre Jones (acquired mid-summer), while rookies like Buzelis provide depth. But whispers of Davis—Chicago’s hometown hero from the University of Kentucky—have persisted since Harrison’s ouster. As a healthy AD would pair devastatingly with Vucevic’s spacing and Giddey’s vision, the Bulls see this as their shot at a superstar upgrade without gutting their core.
The result? A Bulls lineup featuring Giddey, Davis, Buzelis, Harden, and Isaac Okoro that could rival any in the NBA—elite defense, scoring punch, and injury insurance via retained depth.
The Mock Trade: A Three-Way Earthquake
In this hypothetical blockbuster, pieced together from league sources and trade value models, the Bulls orchestrate a masterstroke:
Dallas Mavericks receive: Nikola Vucevic, Coby White, Jevon Carter, Bogdan Bogdanović, Chicago’s unprotected 2028 first-round pick, 2032 first-round pick, and 2032 second-round pick.
Chicago Bulls receive: Anthony Davis, D’Angelo Russell, James Harden, Nicolas Batum, and Cam Christie.
Los Angeles Clippers receive: Dwight Powell, Zach Collins, Patrick Williams, Kevin Huerter, Dante Exum, Chicago’s 2026 first-round pick, 2030 first-round pick, 2028 second-round pick, and 2030 second-round pick.
This deal clears Dallas’s books of Davis’s ballooning salary (projected $90M repeater tax hit next season) while injecting youth and picks to pair with Flagg. Vucevic and White, both free agents in 2026, offer short-term scoring without long-term commitment—perfect for evaluation around the rookie phenom. As The Ringer notes in recent AD trade scenarios, this mirrors expiring-deal dumps that provide immediate flexibility.
For the Clippers, it’s a salvage operation. They offload Harden’s $35M expiring deal and Batum’s contract, gaining desperately needed picks (their own are Thunder-bound) and cap space to lure free agents back to LA. Only Williams is locked in beyond this season, allowing a full reset. Powell and Collins add frontcourt depth, while Huerter and Exum provide shooting—modest returns, but vital for a “hopeless” squad per trade analysts.
The Bulls? They emerge as monsters. Davis anchors the paint, Harden (reunited with Russell) handles creation, and Batum/Christie bolster the wings. Chicago retains four future firsts (including a protected Portland pick) for further tweaks, and the deal complies with CBA rules—executable post-December 15 for salary matching and roster eligibility.
Why This Trade Works for Everyone (Yes, Even the “Booted” Teams)
- Bulls: Instant elevation to title contender status. Giddey-Davis pick-and-rolls alone could average 30 points per game, with Harden’s playmaking unlocking Buzelis’s athleticism. Depth survives via retained youth, mitigating AD’s injury history.
- Mavericks: A clean pivot. Flagg becomes the alpha, with White’s scoring and Vucevic’s vet presence bridging the gap. Post-trade, Dallas avoids apron restrictions, freeing $16.2M in exceptions for summer splashes. As USA Today reports, this aligns with exploring Davis moves to “acquire younger players or draft assets.”
- Clippers: Rebuild fuel. Picks and space replace aging stars, positioning them to chase free agents like a post-injury Leonard reunion. It’s a tough sell—convincing Harden to waive a no-trade—but the allure of lottery odds and financial reset could sway them.
Of course, three-team deals are logistical nightmares, requiring unanimous buy-in amid injury concerns (Davis’s calf) and agent negotiations. Yet, with the deadline months away, momentum is building. Bulls insiders hint at “aggressive pursuit,” while Cuban tempers Dallas’s fire-sale talk.
The Aftermath: A New Power Era Dawns
If this trade materializes, the NBA’s balance tips dramatically. Chicago vaults into the East elite, challenging the Knicks and Bucks. Dallas and LA accelerate toward contention in 2027-28, Flagg and Christie as cornerstones. No roster spots are sacrificed, and post-Dec. 15 execution ensures legality.
The league’s weirdness—Bulls thriving, West favorites floundering—has set the stage for chaos. As the Bulls “boot out” Dallas and LA to claim their superstar, expect shockwaves. The power balance? Completely upended. Buckle up; the deadline can’t come soon enough.