Bulls just quietly handed Mavericks a dream trade they can't afford to ignore

After drafting Cooper Flagg on Wednesday night and signing Ryan Nembhard and Miles Kelly to two-way deals on Thursday night, the Dallas Mavericks' roster is finally starting to come together. As things stand now, Dallas has two open roster spots (one open two-way spot and one standard contract), and it seems like they will eye a guard with that final open roster spot on the 15-man roster.

Dallas has been linked to players like D'Angelo Russell and Chris Paul as targets they could sign with a $5.7 million taxpayer mid-level exception in free agency, but thanks to a recent rumor surrounding the Chicago Bulls and two of their guards, it may be in the Mavs' best interest to make a trade.

According to Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, the Bulls were in "active discussions" to trade Lonzo Ball or Coby White during the 2025 NBA Draft, and with Chicago potentially trying to get rid of one or both of these players, the Mavs should definitely swoop in.

Bulls looking to trade Ball and White is great news for the Mavericks

The Mavericks were linked to Ball in trade rumors earlier this offseason, and while there haven't been any trade rumors linking Dallas to White just yet, he would be an incredible get as well. Both Chicago guards would fit different holes that the Mavericks have on their roster, with Ball being the more attainable target.

Last season for the Bulls, Ball averaged 7.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 36.6 percent from the field and 34.4 percent from downtown in 35 games. While Ball was battling injuries and struggled with inefficiency last season, his elite connectivity, playmaking, and defense could be intriguing enough for Nico Harrison to seriously consider when replacing Kyrie Irving.

Ball has the size to play alongside Irving once he returns as well, but the real dream trade target is White.

While the Mavericks may not have the ammo to pull off a trade for White, he has been a fan-favorite target among Mavs fans for weeks, and he would be an incredible add to Dallas' young core as they begin the Flagg era.

Last season for Chicago, White averaged 20.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 0.9 steals per game while shooting 45.3 percent from the field and 37 percent from downtown. White's smooth handle, quickness, and crafty finishes make him a problem for opposing defenses when he's getting downhill, and his confidence when shooting mid-range and 3-point jumpers continues to grow.

White shot a career-high 7.9 threes per game last season, and with the Mavs needing more shooting, he would help bring a huge spark while Irving is out. He is also known for stepping up in big moments, and with the Mavericks looking to win a title next season, White would be a major contributor to them achieving that goal if they were able to trade for him.

The clock is ticking for the Mavs to make a trade, and while it seems unlikely that they trade for a guard, as they now have the taxpayer mid-level exception to utilize to sign a guard, thanks to Irving signing a team-friendly deal earlier this week. Both White and Ball would be able to help the Mavericks in their own ways, and with the Bulls looking to trade each of them, Dallas should strike if their asking price gets down to a comfortable level.