According to a report from Jake Fischer, the Bulls may have officially missed their (last) window to trade center Nikola Vucevic, if that was indeed something that the franchise was considering.
According to a report from Jake Fischer, the Bulls may have officially missed their (last) window to trade center Nikola Vucevic, if that was indeed something that the franchise was considering.
This news doesn't come as a complete surprise, as the 35-year old Vucevic has been in trade rumors for multiple years, and now entering unrestricted free agency and the back half of his career, they wasn't likely to be a large number of teams lining up to give up real assets for him.
Vucevic is in the middle of another solid offensive season, bringing the same defensive concerns that have plagued him over his career, especially the last few seasons.
Over 1,289 minutes, the Bulls defense has been 3.4 points per 100 possessions worse with Vucevic on the court. It's the most detrimental figure of all of the Bulls regular rotation players. He is averaging under a block and under a steal per game for the fourth-straight season, but his rebounding hasn't fallen off (much) at 10.7 rebounds per 36 minutes.
Overall, Vucevic is averaging 17.0 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game while shooting 37.1% from the 3-point line. His ability to stretch the floor has been crucial to a Bulls team that ranks 10th in 3-point attempts per game and 12th in 3-point percentage. His passing has also been critical for a Bulls team that has been missing playmaker-extraordinaire Josh Giddey since late December. Per Cleaning The Glass, Vucevic's 17.9% assist rate ranks in 87th percentile for big men.
Vucevic is in the final year of a three-year, $60 million deal, and although he may have a dwindling, or near non-existent trade market, there will likely be multiple teams interested in the stretch-five should he be open to leaving Chicago. That last sentence is of the utmost importance, as there is a world where the lack of market for Vucevic works for a Bulls team that has very much seemed to enjoy every part of the Vucevic-experience.
Team success aside, his position as the elder statesman on the team is important. Vucevic serves as an important veteran mentor on the rigors of the NBA, regardless of his perception from the fanbase. He has carved a 14-year NBA career that has seen him possess a remarkable amount of durability even as he enters the apparent twilight years of his career.
The NBA Trade Deadline is February 5th at 3 p.m. ET. Only time will tell if the Bulls are buyers, sellers, or choose to stand pat as they look to get back to 100%.