Could the Chicago Bulls have finally found a trade partner for their two-time All-Star center?
Chicago is desperate to dive into its rebuild with a flexible salary sheet, but its contractual ties to Zach LaVine and Nikola Vučević have prevented that.
At least Vučević and LaVine have been playing well in 2024-25, giving the Bulls the greatest possible chance to attract suitors.
Vučević is probably the easier of the two to move, and on Wednesday, Fadeaway World’s Fran Leiva wondered whether the Grizzlies would be interested in taking on the veteran big man along with Chris Duarte in exchange for a package comprised of Marcus Smart, Jake LaRavia, a 2026 first-rounder, and a 2027 second-rounder via Atlanta.
“The Bulls are stuck in no man’s land,” Leiva said. “At 10-15 this season, they’re just not getting it done. It’s not a full tank, but they’re also nowhere near contention. Nikola Vucevic has been holding it down … but with this roster clearly going nowhere fast, moving him and starting fresh might finally be the right call.”
“The Grizzlies, on the other hand, are in a completely different spot. They’ve got Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr., but they need that extra push to compete at the highest level in a brutal Western Conference. Vucevic is exactly the type of player they’re missing. … Throw Chris Duarte into the mix—a shooter who can defend wings—and you’ve got a pair of additions that make this team a serious threat.”
“For the Bulls, the package makes sense if they’re finally embracing the rebuild. Marcus Smart is a defensive dog and brings the kind of leadership they’ll need as they transition into a younger core. Jake LaRavia hasn’t fully broken out yet, but he’s got potential as a floor-spacing forward. Add a first-round pick in 2026 and a second-rounder in 2027, and you’ve got a deal that helps them focus on the future.”
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