The shocking trade that saw Luka Dončić, one of the NBA’s top superstars, leave the Dallas Mavericks to join the Los Angeles Lakers in February 2025 left the basketball world in disbelief. However, recent revelations suggest that the Chicago Bulls were prepared to make an unimaginable offer to acquire the Slovenian player, a move that could have changed the landscape if the Mavericks had given them a chance.
A Secret and Unexpected Deal
The trade between the Lakers and Mavericks, which saw Dončić exchanged for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round pick, took place in complete secrecy. Many teams, including the Bulls, were unaware of the opportunity to join the negotiations. According to sources from the Chicago Sun-Times, Bulls’ management, led by Arturas Karnisovas, was ready to put “anyone and everyone” on the roster on the table if they had known Dončić was available for a trade in February.
This readiness reflects the Bulls’ desperation to find a star to revive a struggling team. With Coby White as their most valuable asset following Zach LaVine’s departure, the Bulls could have offered a package including White, Matas Buzelis, Patrick Williams, Lonzo Ball, along with four first-round picks and three pick swaps. However, even with this extravagant proposal, it seemingly wasn’t enough to outbid the Lakers’ package, especially with Anthony Davis considered one of the league’s best two-way centers.
Why Did the Bulls Fail in the Race?
The primary reason the Bulls didn’t get a chance to compete was that the Mavericks prioritized direct negotiations with the Lakers without opening the discussion to other teams. Nico Harrison, the Mavericks’ general manager, appeared to target Davis as the perfect defensive piece, rather than evaluating other options from the Bulls or teams like the Timberwolves and Bucks, who were also rumored to be interested. This has led many to question Harrison’s strategy, especially given Dončić’s rare talent at age 25.
The Bulls, with their assets mainly consisting of young players and future draft picks, couldn’t provide an immediate “cornerstone” like Davis, who instantly boosted the Mavericks’ defense. Moreover, the Mavericks seemed less impressed with first-round picks than other teams, which allowed the Lakers to win the deal with a less costly package than anticipated.
When the Los Angeles Lakers acquired Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks, executives around the league wondered why they did not get an opportunity to present a package of their own to trade for the superstar.
A sentiment shared by seemingly all NBA circles was that L.A. got off the hook with a light package that only involved one unprotected first-round pick. However, Anthony Davis is also worth first-round capital as one of, if not the best, two-way center in the league.
But, there is no denying that other teams could have competed or surpassed the Lakers’ offer. One being the Chicago Bulls, who reportedly would have put everything on the table in a potential package for Doncic if Dallas gave them the chance, via Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times:
“A source told the Sun-Times that 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, but even then, it wouldn’t have been better than what the Lakers gave the Mavericks.”
Chicago’s best asset is Coby White, who put together a strong second half of the season as a No. 1 option when Zach LaVine was dealt. Seeing that Kyrie Irving is out for nearly all of next season with an ACL injury, White would fill that void of production.
But outside of White, there are not many intriguing options for the Mavericks in a trade package, specifically when being compared to Davis. Matas Buzelis was picked No. 11 last year and needs time to develop as a 20-year-old forward, while Ayo Dosunmu and Lonzo Ball also intriguing 3-and-D options as guards but with limited ceilings.
Clearly, the Mavericks did not value first-round picks as highly as most teams would and the Bulls have all their picks through 2031. Frankly, L.A. presented more win-now pieces than Chicago in Davis and Max Christie and that is what Dallas ultimately wanted.
Danny Green doesn’t think Lakers can win with Luka Doncic & LeBron James
Another interesting narrative was that Luka Doncic and LeBron James would not be able to co-exist and there were certainly hiccups along the way. Two-man game between James and Doncic happened rarely and head coach JJ Redick did not find a way to mesh his stars together.
Granted, integrating a new franchise-altering star in a mid-season trade usually does not result in immediate success. Now that L.A. gets a full offseason with Doncic, the hope is that he gets more comfortable with his new team.
But, a former Lakers champion in Danny Green remains skeptical about James and Doncic’s fit together. He even went as far as to say that L.A. will not win with this pairing.
Consequences and Outlook
The failure to pursue Dončić leaves the Bulls with significant questions about their future. The team is currently in a rebuilding phase, but the absence of a superstar like Dončić could slow that process. Meanwhile, the Lakers have successfully secured a young star to lead the team post-LeBron James era, though challenges remain in integrating Dončić into their system.
For the Bulls, the “anyone and everyone” move might signal determination but also highlights flaws in building a roster competitive enough to contend. While this deal has concluded, rumors of the Bulls’ interest will undoubtedly remain a hot topic in the summer of 2025 as the trade market opens new possibilities.
This incident is not only a shock in NBA history but also a reminder that in the world of professional basketball, opportunities can slip away in the blink of an eye if action isn’t taken promptly.