The Chicago Bulls have limited options as to where they could turn for answers to help the rebuild in the current offseason.
The constant speculation in the Chicago Bulls camp as to figuring out where the rebuild can go from here heading into its fourth year has spilled over into potential trade discussion the new look front office regime could get involved in. Something has to give for the Bulls this offseason since they invested a lot into making those significant front office changes in the first place.
Finding a good option to redirect the path that this once collapsing rebuild is headed down could be accomplished via the trade route. This free agent cycle isn’t too fruitful in terms of star power. So that leaves the Bulls with the options of trying to build through the trade market and the NBA Draft this offseason.
A potential option on the trade market that was mentioned for the Bulls by Bleacher Report writer Zach Buckley in a piece published on Aug. 8 was the Orlando Magic big man Nikola Vucevic. This piece from Bleacher Report was title “1 Trade to Get Starless NBA Teams Their New Face of the Franchise”. And the Bulls option here was Vucevic.
The return in this hypothetical trade deal that the Bulls gave the Magic here included center Wendell Carter Jr., veteran forward Thaddeus Young, and combo guard Tomas Satoransky. They also had to toss in their 2021 second round draft pick.
That is a load for the Bulls to give up just for a return of Vucevic. But they do move on from both of their 2019 free agent signings, that didn’t pan out as anticipated in their inaugural season.
Here’s more on what that piece from Buckley of Bleacher Report had to say on the hypothetical trade between the Bulls and Magic.
"There are a million different factors behind the Bulls finishing 29th in offensive efficiency, but what if the biggest one is insufficient firepower? Zach LaVine was the only player to average more than 15 points, and Wendell Carter Jr. was the lone Windy City hooper to average double-digit points on 46-plus percent shooting.If the Bulls, who haven’t sent anyone to the All-Star Game since Jimmy Butler made the trip in 2017, want to give their offense some oxygen, putting it in the hands of Vucevic isn’t a bad idea.It’s true he may not be a marquee name, and LaVine could be the club’s scoring leader again next season even with him. But Vooch might be the piece that solves this offensive puzzle. The 6’11”, 260-pounder, who made his first career All-Star trip in 2019, is one of only four players to average 19 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and a triple both this season and last. Joel Embiid, Karl-Anthony Towns and Nikola Jokic are the others."
Vucevic might not be a bad trade target for the Bulls, but this seems like way too much to give up for him. Sato and Young still own a decent level of value on the trade block and Carter Jr. should command more than the return the Bulls get here.
Through 60 games played with the Magic so far in the altered 2019-20 season, Vucevic is averaging 19.7 points per game, 11.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.8 blocks. He is still producing for the Magic at a borderline All-Star caliber level.