The Anthony Davis-to-Chicago rumors are back-and this time, they’re louder than ever.
According to multiple reports, the 10-time All-Star has emerged as the betting favorite to land with the Bulls if he’s dealt before the 2026 trade deadline. And this isn’t just idle speculation. ESPN’s Jamal Collier reports that the Bulls have had internal discussions about their next steps, including conversations centered around Davis, who’s currently with the Dallas Mavericks.
On paper, the idea of bringing the Chicago native back home sounds like a storybook reunion. Davis is still one of the most dominant two-way bigs in the league when healthy, and the thought of him anchoring a young Bulls team could be tempting. But once you strip away the nostalgia and name recognition, the fit starts to look more like a detour than a destination.
Davis’ Price Tag Doesn’t Match the Bulls’ Timeline
Let’s start with the cost. Any deal for Davis would require the Bulls to part with significant assets-players and picks that are critical to the rebuild they’ve already started. A mock trade floating around suggests Chicago would send out Coby White, Kevin Huerter, Zach Collins, a first-round pick, and a pick swap to bring Davis in.
That’s a steep price for a franchise that just moved off Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan to pivot toward a youth-driven, long-term build.
Coby White has emerged as one of the Bulls’ most reliable and improved players. Kevin Huerter is having a career year.
Zach Collins has quietly become one of the league’s better backup bigs since arriving in Chicago. And that first-rounder?
It’s not just a pick-it’s a lifeline for a team that isn’t close to contending yet.
Trading all that for a 32-year-old with a lengthy injury history feels like a move that would undo the very progress the Bulls have been working toward.
The Injury Risk Is Real-and Growing
Davis is still a force when he’s on the floor. But that’s the key phrase: when he’s on the floor.
Over his 14-year career, Davis has missed 274 of a possible 1,067 games-that’s over 25 percent of his career lost to injury. And at this stage, the idea that he’ll suddenly become more durable is wishful thinking at best.
Any team acquiring Davis has to bake in the expectation that he’ll miss at least 20 games a season. And honestly, that might be optimistic. For a Bulls team trying to build something sustainable, that kind of uncertainty is a massive gamble.
Are the Bulls Trying to Copy the Pacers?
There’s another wrinkle here. According to Collier, the Bulls are reportedly looking to model themselves after last season’s Indiana Pacers-a team that made an unexpected run to the NBA Finals behind depth, pace, and defensive physicality.
Head coach Billy Donovan even acknowledged the blueprint: “That’s who we have to be,” he said. “The one thing that Indiana probably doesn't get enough credit for is yes, they play really, really fast and [Tyrese] Haliburton is a unique playmaker back there, but the physicality of those guys defensively is where our evolution has to continue.”
It’s a compelling idea-build a fast, tough, unselfish team that doesn’t rely on a single superstar. But there’s a catch.
The Pacers had a healthy core. Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner missed just 14 combined games last season.
Davis, by himself, missed 31. And while Josh Giddey might be Chicago’s version of Haliburton, the Bulls don’t yet have the depth or cohesion that made Indiana’s run possible.
Trying to shortcut the process by adding a high-usage, injury-prone star doesn’t align with that model. It actually runs counter to it.
A Win-Now Move for a Team That’s Not Ready to Win
Even in a best-case scenario where Davis stays healthy and plays at an All-NBA level, the Bulls still don’t project as contenders. The East is deep at the top, and Chicago would be sacrificing its depth and future flexibility just to land in the middle of the pack.
This team finally owns its full set of future draft picks. It has a young core that could grow into something real over the next two to three seasons. The smart move is to lean into that path-not veer off course for a short-term splash that won’t move the needle in a meaningful way.
Chicago doesn’t need a quick fix. It needs patience, development, and a clear direction. Right now, the Davis rumors suggest the front office is still wrestling with what that direction should be.
But if the Bulls want to build something that lasts, the answer isn’t Anthony Davis. It’s staying the course.