2. Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls’ likelihood of landing Davis largely depends on his desire to play for his hometown team.
In this age of player empowerment, Davis could probably make that happen if he wanted to. Suppose the Los Angeles Lakers put him on the market.
All he has to do is get the word out that he’s not interested in playing anywhere else. History tells us that potential suitors will be scared off. In fact, that’s exactly how Davis landed in Los Angeles.
The Chicago Bulls could make an intriguing offer. For example, a deal centered around Nikola Vucevic and Lonzo Ball works contractually. The Lakers could insist on intriguing sophomore wing Patrick Williams or draft capital.
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Vucevic suffered a slight shooting slump in 2021-22, but he’s still a more reliable three-point marksman than Davis. Acquiring him may lead the Lakers front office to conclude that they could give Westbrook another season.
Or not. Lonzo Ball remains a better fit alongside LeBron James. The Los Angeles Lakers could look to move Westbrook elsewhere, or, simply buy him out.
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That may seem backward: if they’re not keeping Westbrook, why move Davis for a better-fitting player? Well, remember what we said about desperation. Moving Davis for more depth and floor balance could result in a more competitive season in 2022-23, Westbrook or otherwise.
