While a five-game losing streak suggests the Chicago Bulls are on the brink of entering tank mode, the trade deadline remains the real test.
The front office has a little over two weeks to finally press self-destruct. To be sure, rumors have continued to suggest that Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley are open for business, but how willing they are to do that business in earnest remains to be seen. Reports said they were overvaluing their assets as recently as December, and we all know this has been a consistent self-imposed barrier for leadership in the past.
Of course, there is also the fact that their main trade chips are on lucrative multi-year deals. Zach LaVine’s $43.0+ million isn’t easy to move mid-season, particularly in an era of strict luxury tax punishments. As for Nikola Vucevic, any team that acquires him has to be willing to have him on the books next season. The big man is making $20.0 million this year and $21.0 million next year.
Alas, while there may be some hesitation for some, there is no denying Vucevic’s contract is far more easily absorbable. And that is the primary reason why he remains in the bulk of Bulls-related trade rumors as the Feb. 6 deadline looms. Well, that AND the fact he is having the most efficient scoring season of his career.
Vucevic is averaging 20.5 points on a career-high 55.8 percent from the field and 41.6 percent from long range.
Update on Nikola Vucevic’s Trade Market
Nikola Vucevic’s name has mainly been brought up in relation to the Golden State Warriors. Looking to remain in the playoff mix in a very competitive Western Conference, the team wants to add some secondary scoring power next to Stephen Curry. The Bulls’ starting center is undoubtedly an intriguing fit, particularly when we consider Curry has never played with a true stretch big.
The Warriors’ interest was reiterated by another source recently, ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk:
“But both Western Conference executives expect the Warriors to wait and see what the market will be on a player such as Chicago Bulls big man Nikola Vucevic as the Feb. 6 deadline nears. Vucevic would give Curry a much-needed scorer. The ideal situation for the Warriors would be expiring contracts for Vucevic, who makes $20 million this season.”
While the Bulls will likely want some kind of asset in return for Vucevic, this should be music to their ears. Not taking back any long-term money at the deadline is also the ideal situation for them, and the Warriors can easily make that happen. For example, the one-year deals of Gary Payton II, Kevon Looney, and Lindy Waters III would be enough to make the trade machine give the green light.
Now, the Bulls will most certainly ask for some kind of draft compensation on top of that. The question would be whether or not the Warriors can convince Karnisovas to take back multiple seconds as opposed to the first-rounder they likely covet. If the deal goes down to the wire, this part of the negotiations will likely be the cause.
One way to ensure the Warriors up the antee is by creating a bidding war. Golden State has been one of the only legitimate suitors for Vucevic thus far, which has given them a good amount of leverage. However, the Chicago Sports Network’s K.C. Johnson has given us some hope that another team could emerge (emphasis mine):
“Nikola Vucevic there remains some optimism internally that he will be able to be moved,” Johnson said on a recent episode of The Fastbreak.” I know they have been engaged in some preliminary discussions with at least two teams in the league. So those conversation will continue as they get closer to the NBA trade deadline.”
You can listen to Johnson’s full comments on the Chicago Sports Network YouTube here.
The longtime Bulls insider did go on to confirm that the Warriors have been one of those teams, but he did not name-drop the other organization that has had “preliminary discussions” with the Bulls. Could it be the Los Angeles Lakers, who have also been linked to Jonas Valanciunas in recent weeks? What about the Suns, who were tied to Vucevic earlier this season despite supreme luxury tax obstacles?
If one thing is for sure, all this continued chatter about Vucevic has me also feeling optimistic that something could develop over the next couple of weeks. Is it possible the Bulls panic at the last second and choose to keep him? Of course, but these reports at least indicate they could be more motivated than they have been in the past to make a trade happen.