The Bulls have been frequently rumored as a potential trade destination for Anthony Davis, but NBA Insider Marc Stein (subscription needed) reports no evidence connecting them to a real AD trade. The Davis-to-Chicago rumors have persisted because of his connections to Chicago and the Bulls’ need for better top-end talent. But for now, it appears that the speculation should be put to rest.

Don’t expect Davis in a Bulls uniform any time soon

As many players around the league become available for trade on December 15, the Bulls are poised to be involved in many other trade talks. They will surely be seeking moves that can help them escape from the middle-tier of mediocrity in the East. That can mean either entering a full rebuild by trading current players for future talent and draft picks or getting upgrades to become a proper playoff contender.

Trading for Davis would certainly be an upgrade to the Bulls’ current big man rotation, especially on defense. His rim protection can instantly fix one of the team’s biggest weaknesses, and he’s no slouch offensively either. Davis is still a deadly lob finisher, especially when paired with a talented passer like Josh Giddey.

But the Bulls seem to have bowed out of the Davis trade talks. There are some unavoidable problems in any Anthony Davis trade, namely the cost of the trade package and the timeline fit of AD. The Mavericks will undoubtedly ask for a big haul in return for an All-NBA level player, but the Bulls can’t afford to ship out the few promising pieces they currently have.

Additionally, Davis is already 32—nearly 10 years older than Giddey. By the time Giddey and other young Bulls are ready to compete in the playoffs, Davis will be well past his best seasons and possibly even retired. He’s also been tremendously injury-prone in recent seasons, including only 11 games played so far this season. Even as good as Davis is when healthy, he can’t help the Bulls win at all if he’s on the sidelines.

Anthony Davis is a Chicago success story as the best player to come out of the city in years. But he’s not the right fit for the current Bulls. Between Davis’ own flaws and the weakness of the Bulls’ roster, they aren’t in a good position to trade for Davis. It’s refreshing to see the Bulls management realize this, rather than making another ill-advised move for short-term improvement.

Any Bulls fans who hoped to see Davis come home will have to shift their attention to other trade targets instead. The Bulls will surely be active with transactions in the next two months, but according to Stein, Anthony Davis will not be a name to monitor.