The effects of the Luka Doncic trade are still being felt today, months after the initial deal. To the shock of everyone at the time, they did not entertain a bidding war for their franchise player and only sent him to the Lakers after weeks of secret negotiations. What the Dallas Mavericks may not have realized back then was that at least one team (the Bulls) would have offered anything and everything to acquire No. 77.
“A source told the Sun-Times that Arturas Karnisovas and his front office would have offered anyone and everyone on the roster had they been notified by the Mavericks that Luka Doncic was available in February,” reported Joe Cowley.
The Chicago Bulls have been looking for a superstar for years now, and Luka Doncic would have been the perfect fit. As a young and exciting player with a burning desire to win, his arrival would mark a new era for the Bulls and a return to contention after years of mediocrity. Sadly, it seems like they missed their chance, and they might never get the opportunity again.
Luka Doncic is a once-in-a-generation type of athlete, and he’s the kind of player that teams wait years to build their team around. In just seven years in the NBA, Doncic is a 5x All-Star, 5x All-NBA player, and 1x NBA scoring champion. For his career, the Slovenian guard is averaging 28.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game on 43.8% shooting.
He was drafted third overall by the Hawks but was traded to the Mavericks on the same day. He spent six and a half seasons in Dallas, leading them to prosperity as a regular playoff contender. But even after a trip to the Finals in 2024, the Mavs turned on Doncic, having lost faith in his leadership and commitment to the game.
As relations deteriorated between Doncic and the Mavericks, most teams would have announced his availability to try and secure the best package possible. For GM Nico Harrison, however, he already had an ideal return in mind: 32-year-old Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a future first-round pick. After landing this summer’s No. 1 overall pick, they can also expect to have Cooper Flagg in uniform next season, but he wasn’t part of the initial trade.
The return is shockingly light for a 26-year-old superstar in his prime, especially considering what the Bulls had and were willing to offer. They were willing to give up all their best assets to form a potential package including Coby White, Matas Buzelis, Patrick Williams, Lonzo Ball, four first-round picks, and three pick swaps.
The deal would have brought depth to the roster and restored the Mavericks’ draft capital. Meanwhile, the Bulls could have started fresh with a new leading face and an identity for the future. It’s a win-win for both sides.
Instead, Nico Harrison didn’t even give other teams a chance to step in, and he might have hurt his own team’s return in the process. Regardless, the Bulls must now continue their search for a franchise player elsewhere, and it could be a while before they finally land their guy.
