The Chicago Bulls have spent the past three seasons stuck in Play-In Tournament territory while navigating a rebuild.
Chicago has missed the postseason in seven of the past eight seasons, with their last playoff berth coming in the 2021-22 campaign. Of the team’s four leading scorers by points per game that year — DeMar DeRozan, Zach Lavine, Nikola Vucevic and Lonzo Ball — only Vucevic remains. The veteran center has been linked to trade speculation in recent years, though his three-year, $60 million contract was a significant deterrent.
Still, Vucevic remains a nightly double-double threat and is coming off another productive season. He averaged 18.5 points, 10.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game in 2024-25, shooting 40.2 percent from three-point range across 73 regular-season appearances. Contending teams in need of a center could target the two-time All-Star, who won’t carry a financial commitment beyond this season.
Lakers land Nikola Vucevic in mock trade
Liam Willerup of SI.com recently compiled a mock trade that would send Vucevic to Los Angeles, pairing the 34-year-old with LeBron James and Luka Doncic.
Here’s Willerup’s proposed trade:
Bulls receive: Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber, 2028 first-round pick swap (top-5 protected)
Lakers receive: Nikola Vucevic
MORE: Bulls’ offseason earns underwhelming spot among NBA rankings
While the Lakers added Deandre Ayton this offseason, his injury history remains a major concern. Vucevic has appeared in at least 70 regular-season games in five straight years and would provide the team with a big man who can stretch the floor effectively.
If the Lakers want to go all-in for what could be James’ final season, trading for Vucevic is a plausible move. His salary would also come off the books after the 2025-26 campaign, providing future flexibility.
Trading away a first-round pick swap could be costly, but it may be a risk worth taking if Ayton’s injury issues persist into the 2025-26 season.
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