Losing only twice in their past eleven games, the Chicago Bulls look sharp as of late. They have taken down strong Western Conference teams like the Los Angeles Lakers and the Denver Nuggets on the road.
Remember, this same Chicago Bulls team was 21-29 after their first 50 games this season. They sent DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso packing before the season, and Zach LaVine eventually followed suit at the trade deadline.
However, one of the aging and costly veterans still on the Bulls' roster is Nikola Vucevic. He is averaging a double-double this season with 18.5 points and 10.1 rebounds per game.
Vucevic is having a career year from the floor with his 53% field goal. The 13-year veteran has one year remaining on the three-year deal he inked two summers ago.
So Why Would Chicago Move on from Vucevic Now?
In all honesty, why not? The former University of Southern California Trojan would make nearly $21 million next season. For a player who hasn't been named to an All-Star team since 2021, he is closer to retirement than he is to the peak of his career.
Clearly, the Bulls are not in a win-now mindset even if they were to make one of the four spots for this year's play-in. Chicago has not made it out of the first round of the playoffs in over a decade.
"When the ball has come downhill, he’s [Nikola Vucevic] done a pretty good job of going vertical. He’s always been an elite defensive rebounder. Being a veteran, he’s seen so many of these guys, and he’s diligent in his work."Billy Donovan, Chicago Bulls' head coach
Vucevic is one of the team's best assets in the trade market this summer. He could easily find a new home like his former teammates DeRozan, Caruso, and LaVine have in recent months.
He is the biggest cap hit for Chicago, with close to 14% of the Bulls' salary. Other starters like Josh Giddey are looking for a new deal.
Simply put, with the Bulls projected to be over the salary cap this summer, moving Vucevic makes sense. According to Spotrac.com, Chicago will be $31 million in the hole. At this rate, it will only get worse the following summer.
Outside of the Bulls' starting center, every other player is still in their 20's. The three oldest players after Vucevic are not even guaranteed to be a part of Chicago's future.
Jevon Carter is a free agent, and Lonzo Ball has seen limited action after missing multiple seasons due to injury. Newly acquired Zach Collins doesn't factor in the team's long-term plans with a salary of $18 million in the final year of his current deal next year.
Thus, Vucevic has the most to net Chicago in the trade market this off-season. Perhaps the Bulls can finally get at least a late first-round pick for him in a deal. That is more realistic and beneficial than keeping Vucevic for one more season.