Lousy Eastern Conference squad urged to trade for Bulls' Nikola Vucevic

Ivan White

Lousy Eastern Conference squad urged to trade for Bulls' Nikola Vucevic image

The Chicago Bulls might need to part ways with their big man if the right situation appears.

This offseason, the Bulls extended head coach Billy Donovan and have been stuck in a stalemate with Josh Giddey. That’s about as big as the Bulls’ moves have been over the past several weeks, but there could be some noise in the near future.

While reports have come out in recent weeks that the Bulls are uninterested in buying out Nikola Vucevic, the team’s interest in finding him a new home is still alive and well. Vucevic has been the Bulls’ interior threat since 2021, but the team is likely ready to move on to its next stage and go all-in on its youth movement.

As suggested by Hornets on SI’s Ryan Stano, the Charlotte Hornets might be the team that should strike a deal with Chicago. Stano noted that the Hornets simply need to improve their center position.

Although the team has some interesting prospects down low, the team’s lack of success has been partially fueled by its center issues. Of course, Vucevic would likely only be a one-year rental in Charlotte, assuming he’s interested in finding a winning situation next summer.

While playing games alongside LaMelo Ball when he’s on the floor could help Vucevic get some stats, the Hornets likely aren’t the ideal situation for a veteran big man who likely wants to win. Still, if Charlotte can be the team that gives Chicago what it’s looking for in a deal, the former All-Star could soon be back in the Southeast Division.

Ivan White

Ivan White is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. A 2024 graduate of Oklahoma State University. Ivan has covered the Oklahoma City Thunder for Sports Illustrated since 2023. As The Sporting News, Ivan will cover the NBA, MLB, and more.