Trade Proposal Sends Nikola Vucevic, Torrey Craig To Warriors

One NBA insider proposed that the Golden State Warriors acquire Nikola Vucevic and Torrey Craig from the Chicago Bulls. 

Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints proposed the following mock trade between the Warriors and Bulls:

Warriors receive: C Nikola Vucevic, F Torrey Craig

Bulls receive: C Kevon Looney, G Gary Payton II, G/F Moses Moody 

“The center position has been an unsolvable spot on the court for Golden State, making Vucevic a name the Warriors should consider,” Siegel wrote in his NBA trade proposal. “Vucevic is 33 years old and has always been a very serviceable big man in the NBA. Over the last four seasons, the veteran center has averaged 18.1 points and 10.9 rebounds per game while shooting 49.0 percent from the floor in a Chicago Bulls uniform. The best trait Vucevic possesses is his ability to effectively execute pick-and-pop sets and get wide-open looks from the perimeter, where he has shot 34.1 percent for his career.

“Next to Curry and Green, Vucevic would see plenty of catch-and-shoot opportunities while also giving the Warriors a much-needed primary rebounder in the frontcourt. Although Kevon Looney has been great for this franchise through the years, the Warriors appear to be transitioning into a different way of thinking when it comes to utilizing their centers. Looney, who is a bruiser-like big man, was moved to the bench in favor of rookie Trayce Jackson-Davis and Green as a small-ball center last season.”

Vucevic will make $20 million in 2024-25. He averaged 18.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.8 blocks last season for the Bulls while shooting 48.4% from the field, 29.4% from beyond the arc and 82.2% from the free-throw line.

The Bulls acquired Vucevic from the Orlando Magic in March 2021. 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 with the Philadelphia 76ers, Magic and Bulls. He was the 16th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft out of USC. 

Craig averaged 5.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.4 blocks for the Bulls last season while shooting 43.0% from the field, 39.2% from beyond the arc and 75.0% from the free-throw line. The wing will make $2.9 million next season in the final year of his contract. 

Craig has career averages of 6.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.5 steals and 0.6 blocks with the Denver Nuggets, Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns, Indiana Pacers and Bulls.