The Chicago Bulls faced criticism and skepticism for their quiet offseason and struggles to trade star center Nikola Vucevic. While many believed the two-time All-Star would part ways with the team via a buyout, a Bulls insider believes Vucevic will still have trade value, although a deal is unlikely before the season starts in October.
Nikola Vucevic could leave the Chicago Bulls before the trade deadline
The Chicago Sports Network Bulls insider K.C. Johnson recently pushed back hard on growing speculation about a Vucevic buyout, believing the team isn’t planning to buy out Vucevic and will instead explore trade options leading up to the February 2026 deadline. Given his best season in Chicago with averages of 18.5 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists during the 2024-25 campaign, Vucevic was expected to have significant trade value, and the team hopes to turn his final year into assets through a trade.
Assuming a trade becomes feasible later in the season, the ideal outcome for Vucevic—and the Bulls—is a mutual separation that reunites him with a playoff-caliber team in need of a scoring and rebounding boost off the bench. At 34, he’d likely sign for the minimum but still provide value as a floor-spacing big with championship experience—a veteran presence that contenders often seek in February and March.
Chicago Bulls get painfully chastised by NBA insider
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