Source: Bulls Will Look To Trade Nikola Vucevic This Summer

The Chicago Bulls will look to trade Nikola Vucevic this summer, NBA sources told Hoops Wire. 

Vucevic will make $21.4 million next season in the final year of his contract. 

Chicago tried to trade Vucevic at the February trade deadline, but the front office didn’t find a deal it liked. 

During his exit interview with local NBA reporters, Vucevic sounded like a guy who wants to play for a contender. 

“There are some good, young pieces that can be built around,” Vucevic said. “There are a lot of questions when you’re a team not fighting for the top. I have trust in them and believe they want to do what’s best and build a good team that wants to win. So we’ll see. Obviously, I’m at the stage in my career where I’m trying to win now, play in the playoffs and hopefully have deep playoff runs. It’s a young team and it does take time. It all depends on what their timeline is and how they see this team.”

Vucevic appeared in 73 games this season. He averaged 18.5 points, 10.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists while shooting 53.0% from the field, 40.2% from beyond the arc and 80.5% from the free-throw line. 

The Bulls missed the playoffs again this year. They have only made the postseason once since trading Jimmy Butler to the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2016. 

Vucevic has played for the Orlando Magic and Bulls. He’s a two-time All-Star with career avergaes of 17.2 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists. 

The Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors were interested in trading for Vucevic in February, sources told Hoops Wire. The Lakers and Warriors moved on from Vucevic after making blockbuster trades.

Los Angeles acquired Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks, while Golden State acquired Butler from the Miami Heat. 

Vucevic has appeared in 330 games with the Bulls, who acquired the USC product from the Magic in 2021.