The Dallas Mavericks are about ten months removed from one of the biggest trades in NBA history, and despite their recent track record for blockbuster deals, they haven't been linked to this season's hottest name in the rumor mill: Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Maybe it's trauma.

On paper, the Mavericks don't have a single asset other than Cooper Flagg who could titillate the Milwaukee Bucks into giving up their franchise cornerstone. The only real trade asset the Mavericks boast is their 2026 first-round pick, which should be untouchable, and Anthony Davis, who likely already has one foot out the door.

"The Mavericks aren't giving away Cooper Flagg, and without him, this is a team mostly devoid of youth and picks," wrote CBS Sports' Sam Quinn. "Their best-case scenario would be trading Anthony Davis for a pile of assets they could then flip for Antetokounmpo, but who on Earth is eager to trade for Davis while Antetokounmpo is available? Davis just isn't worth enough to get this done."

I'll tell you who might be interested in Davis, injury history, and all: his hometown Chicago Bulls.

Davis has long been linked to Chicago, which could use a rim-protecter. Most mock trades have Chicago rerouting Nikola Vucevic, Coby White, and Zach Collins to Dallas for Davis, although the Bulls could instead send the matching salary and draft capital to the Bucks, allowing the Greek Freak to land in Dallas. 

Full Mock Trade Details

• Dallas Mavericks add: Giannis Antetokounmpo
• Chicago Bulls add: Anthony Davis
• Milwaukee Bucks add: Nikola Vucevic, Patrick Williams, Coby White, 2027 first-round pick (via CHI), 2029 first-round pick (via CHI), 2029 first-round pick swap (via HOU), 2029 first-round pick (via LAL, top-10 protected), 2031 first-round pick (via DAL)

On top of the draft capital sent by the Bulls, the Mavericks would have to give up prime assets of their own, but a lineup next season of Flagg, Giannis, Kyrie Irving, PJ Washington, and ideally a floor-spacing center could pull Dallas up from the bottom of the standings.

The deal above allows the struggling Mavericks to hold onto their 2026 first-rounder, which is the last draft pick they own outright for a good long while. The Bucks, meanwhile, get expiring contracts in White and Vucevic, and will only have to pay Williams beyond this season.

The Bucks could force the Mavericks into removing the protections on the 2029 selection from Los Angeles, although three unprotected picks are still quite a haul.

With Giannis as the centerpiece, the Mavericks will have to add shooting around him, although Irving's return from injury, PJ Washington, and even Klay Thomp[son could alleviate that. Plus, Flagg's outside shot has shown some promise, and the two jumbo-wings could run the Western Conference on both ends of the floor.

Antetokounmpo is only 31 years old, so by the time his prime reaches its end, Flagg will just be heating up, setting the Mavericks up for some long-term success.