Mavericks' Anthony Davis trade whispers point to thrilling blockbuster destination

Dallas Mavericks star big man Anthony Davis was linked to the Chicago Bulls in trade rumors earlier this week, and the Bulls' overall philosophy ahead of the trade deadline may have just made it obvious that he could be heading to Chicago later this season. The NBA's trade deadline is on February 5, just over two months away, and the Bulls' missing piece to their future puzzle may be Davis.

The Bulls want to build their team like the Indiana Pacers did with Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam over the last few years, and this starts with making Josh Giddey a franchise cornerstone and getting him a running mate. Chicago struck gold when they traded for Giddey, as it has truly been a dream fit for both sides, and pairing him with a star big man could be exactly what the Bulls need to become a powerhouse in the Eastern Conference.

"They have Haliburton, who is an All-Star, and they have Siakam," a Bulls source told ESPN's Jamal Collier when talking about the Pacers. "If Giddey can develop into an All-Star and be what Hali was, when do we pull the trigger to get our Siakam?"

Mavs could trade Davis to Chicago if rumbles turn into an earthquake

According to Collier, multiple Bulls sources "acknowledged the similarities between what they are trying to build and the way Indiana constructed a contender." The Pacers went from never making it out of the first round of playoffs to reaching the Eastern Conference Finals and NBA Finals in back-to-back seasons, and this started with trading for Pascal Siakam.

Indiana knew that it had a future superstar in Tyrese Haliburton on their hands, but he couldn't do it alone. This is where Siakam came into play, and they reached the conference finals in the same season that they traded for him.

The following year, they reached the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000.

Coincidence? I think not.

The Pacers had missed the playoffs in the previous three seasons before their dominant run over the last two seasons, and the Bulls could get on a similar track if they pair a superstar forward with Giddey sooner rather than later. He is in the middle of the best season of his career, and someone like Davis would change everything for him and his new team.

Their defense needs major change, as they lack true defensive stoppers outside of a couple of players. They also struggle to protect the rim, and adding a future Hall-of-Fame big man to anchor their defense wouldn't be a bad idea. The Bulls believe that Davis can help them in that department, and a solid showing from him over the next few months may be all they need to convince them that he is who they need to lead their new era of Chicago basketball.

Combine Davis' defensive prowess with his two-man game, and Giddey and the Bulls may form one of the best duos in the East if they bring him in.

This season, Giddey is averaging 20.6 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 9.1 assists per game, and with the Bulls leaking that they want to get him a star frontcourt player to play alongside him, all of the tea leaves are pointing straight to a trade for Davis.

Chicago notably likes having players from the area on their team, as shown by Jevon Carter, Ayo Dosunmu, and Matas Buzelis, and adding another Chicago native in Davis to their core may be a move that they can't pass up. The Bulls' interest in Davis will likely depend on whether or not they can put together some wins and solidify themselves as a playoff team in the East, and if they can do this, they'd likely be adamant about making a blockbuster trade for Davis.

It seems like the Bulls leaked that they want a Davis-type player without saying it outright, and Chicago is definitely a team to keep an eye on moving forward.

Before any of these trade talks heat up, though, Davis needs to remain healthy while playing at an elite level for Dallas. He just returned from a lengthy 14-game absence due to a left calf strain, and he has to prove that he can stay on the floor while being one of the best bigs in the NBA.

The beginning of the season didn't do him any favors, as he came into Mavericks training camp overweight and out of shape, but he has plenty of time to prove that he is one of the league's premier frontcourt players. The trade deadline is 65 days away, and Dallas has 30 more games before then.

Davis shouldn't be expected to play in every one of these games, as he is currently on a minutes restriction and sitting out back-to-backs, but he should be able to show teams around the league that he is worth trading for in this time span. It's already known that the Mavericks are looking to trade Davis, and positive production is only going to make this trade buzz pick up.

Whether that is in Chicago, or elsewhere.

With this new report from ESPN, it seems likely that a trade for Davis is on the Bulls' minds, and a small winning streak could be all they need to make such a trade. Chicago doesn't want to cough up key pieces of their young core to "execute such a deal until the team is closer to contention," as Collier noted, but things within the standings could change quickly.

If the Bulls go on another incredible run like they did to begin the regular season, Davis may be at the top of their wish list. If not, the Mavericks may have to play ball elsewhere.