Chicago Bulls said goodbye to DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso in the summer, and it’s expected they will also part ways with Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic, though they’ve struggled to find satisfactory trade offers. Both players have had standout seasons, and as the February 6 trade deadline nears, several teams are monitoring the Bulls duo. The Golden State Warriors have shown interest in both LaVine and Vucevic. LaVine could provide secondary scoring behind Stephen Curry, while Vucevic would be a solid addition at center.
Despite being a frontrunner for Vucevic, the Warriors may not meet the Bulls’ trade demands. According to Marc Stein’s Substack (via HoopsHype): “The Bulls continue to seek a first-round pick in exchange for former All-Star center Nikola Vucevic, league sources say. The Warriors have been at the front of the line in terms of potential Vucevic suitors for weeks but, mired in a 10-20 funk that had them stuck at a lowly No. 11 in the West entering Monday’s play, have to date been unwilling to surrender more than second-round draft capital.”
Vucevic is averaging 19.9 points, 10.4 rebounds, shooting 54.7% from the field and 39.4% from three-point range, making him an appealing target for teams. Though it’s surprising the Bulls would trade two of their best players, their current mediocrity makes it a sensible decision as they continue their rebuild.
