NBA analyst Marc Stein predicts that the Chicago Bulls will probably acquire Nikola Vucevic in the upcoming season.
The Bulls wish to deal Zach LaVine and Vucevic as they rebuild.
“With just two seasons remaining on his contract at a total little over $41 million… and with proven big men tougher to find,” Stein wrote, “Vucevic should be significantly easier for Chicago to sell.” “The 33-year-old’s move is more likely to happen during the season than before it, according to the early indications.”
In 2024–2025, Vucevic will earn $20 million.
This is the second year in a row that Chicago has missed the playoffs. The team has only advanced to the postseason once since 2017 when Jimmy Butler was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
In five short games, the Bulls were defeated by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2022 playoffs’ opening round.
In 2023–24, Vucevic shot 48.4% from the field, 29.4% from outside the arc, and 82.2% from the free-throw line while averaging 18.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.8 blocks. In 76 games, he recorded 45 double-doubles.
In March 2021, Vucevic was acquired by the Bulls from the Orlando Magic. With the Philadelphia 76ers, Magic, and Bulls, the two-time All-Star has career averages of 17.1 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.9 blocks. In the 2011 NBA Draft, he was selected sixteenth overall from USC.
This offseason, Chicago sent DeMar DeRozan to the Sacramento Kings and traded Alex Caruso to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Josh Giddey.
