Trade Proposal Sends Nikola Vucevic To Warriors, Andrew Wiggins To Bulls

One NBA analyst proposed that the Golden State Warriors trade Andrew Wiggins to the Chicago Bulls for Nikola Vucevic.

Stephen Noh of The Sporting News proposed the following mock trade between the Warriors and Bulls:

Warriors receive: Nikola Vucevic, Jevon Carter, Torrey Craig

Bulls receive: Andrew Wiggins, Trayce Jackson-Davis

“The Warriors do not have great depth at center,” Noh wrote. “Draymond Green is still a good option, but he’s not capable of playing that position full-time. Kevon Looney has dropped off dramatically and is no longer a starter-quality big man. And Trayce Jackson-Davis is a promising young player but not dynamic enough to start on a championship-caliber team. 

“Enter Vucevic, who is on the decline himself but still a solid starter in the league. The Bulls are in the midst of a retool, and the big man doesn’t fit at all into their long-term plans. Vucevic would be a good fit in the Warriors’ system. He’s a smart elbow passer who loves working out of split cuts, which have been a staple of Steve Kerr‘s offense. He could give them an extra dimension with his post play that they haven’t really had previously. And he’s a good defensive rebounder and screener.

“Most importantly, it wouldn’t take much to get Vucevic. The Warriors could throw in Andrew Wiggins and a young prospect like Jackson-Davis to get a deal done.”

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 in 2023-24 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. 

Wiggins, who won the 2022 championship, averaged 13.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.6 assists and 0.6 blocks last season for the Warriors while shooting 45.3% from the field, 35.8% from beyond the arc and 75.1% from the free-throw line. He’ll make $26.3 million next season. 

The first overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, Wiggins has career averages of 18.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.7 blocks with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Warriors.