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Bulls trading for Anthony Davis would be a classic case of a Catch-22
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- Bulls trading for Anthony Davis would be a classic case of a Catch-22
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The post Bulls trading for Anthony Davis would be a classic case of a Catch-22 appeared first on ClutchPoints .
Undoubtedly, Anthony Davis has been on quite the whirlwind over the course of one and a half NBA seasons. First, he was the subject of a blockbuster trade from the Mavericks to the Lakers with Luka Doncic last February. Now, will Davis be on his way back to his hometown of Chicago and play with the Bulls ?
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Lately, rumors have been circulating that the Bulls may be setting their sights on Davis to build their roster, add a veteran and proven winner to their mix, and strengthen their defense, which isn't exactly up to par right now.
It has also been reported that the Bulls have had internal discussions about a possible trade for Davis, per Jamal Collier of ESPN. Currently, Davis is averaging 19.3 points and 9.3 rebounds per game and has played six games for Dallas thus far. Also, he is battling through injury , the most recent being a calf strain.
Also, the Mavericks are currently 6-15. Meanwhile, the Bulls are 9-10 and have a young roster they are looking to build around. Among those core players are Coby White , Josh Giddey , Ayo Dosunmu , and Matas Buzelis .
Some of those key Chicago players are facing an unforeseen future. White, Dosunmu, Kevin Huerter , and Nikola Vucevic each are set to become unrestricted free agents at the conclusion of this season. With all this in mind and then some, there are really good reasons to seek out and potentially snatch up Davis.
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At the same time, it comes with an enormous risk. A dilemma that only Nelly and Kelly Rowland could write a song about.
Why the Bulls are stuck in the middle of a fundamental paradox
When looking at where Anthony Davis is and where he was, he brings a unique blend of promise and baggage. On the one hand, Davis is an elite defender and can protect the rim. Plus, he adds a dimension of being a lob threat, which Chicago doesn't currently possess.
Also, Davis hails from Chicago, much like Dosunmu, Buzelis, and Jalen Carter. That in and of itself would be fitting. Altogether, Davis has career averages of 24.1 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. Furthermore, his positioning on the floor can do wonders for a player such as Josh Giddey. In other words, Davis can be the go-to guy in pick-and-roll situations, which Giddey would facilitate. Thus leading to easy points in the paint.
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All in all, the Bulls would be in a prime position to contend for the postseason with Davis on board.
That being said, if they move ahead with this, then they would have to know what they are getting. For starters, Davis has a long history of battling injuries. Since the 2019-2020 season, he has played in more than 56 games only once.
The rash of injuries includes Achilles strains, MCL sprains, a left ankle injury, core/abdominal injuries, and a foot injury. Not only that, but Davis comes with an even higher price.
Currently, Davis averages around $58.4 million in annual revenue. If the Bulls were to get him, they would have to significantly draw down their roster and trade some of their young talent. That would likely be White, Dosunmu, or Patrick Williams . Additionally, they would also have to give up some first-round draft picks.
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But they would still have to prove that they can retain draft picks. Plus, at 33, Davis would likely have reached the end of his career as guys such as Giddey and Buzelis have fully come into their own.
The Bulls need to think this one long and hard.
If the Bulls decided to secure Davis's services and keep him healthy, it would have been worth it. That is, if they can make the playoffs after a long slog.
If they sacrifice their young guns and he gets hurt again, it would go down as one of the worst moves in NBA history.
Either way, the ball is in their court.
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