3) Chicago Bulls early 2021 trade deadline targets
A player that is bound to get his second career NBA All-Star selection this season (at least as it appears now) is the star Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic. There’s not many more underrated and productive big men around the NBA landscape this season than with the 6-foot-11 and 260 pound Swiss native Vucevic.
I’ve been an advocate of a team like the Bulls trying to trade for Vucevic from the Magic for a good while now. And making a move at this trade deadline next month could be perfect timing. Vucevic could be exactly what the Bulls need to bring more stability and star power to the starting frontcourt, and just their center rotation in general.
It wasn’t all that long ago that Vucevic got his first-career All-Star nod. And he really should’ve represented the Magic last season in the All-Star Weekend festivities held at the United Center in Chicago.
Moreover, Bulls fans should now be well acquainted with what Vucevic brings to the table. He came very close to posting a 40+ point and 20 rebound game against them in the first meeting of back-to-backs last week, on the night of Feb. 5.
Vucevic has now played in 27 games for the Magic so far this season (starting in all of them), and averaging around 34 minutes on the floor per game. He’s averaged 24.0 points per game, 11.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.6 blocks. And Vucevic shot an efficient 48.8 percent from the field, 43.5 percent from beyond the arc, and 81.4 percent from the free-throw line.
If they could find a way to get a deal done with the Magic, then Vucevic would be well worth considering as a deadline target for Karnisovas and the Bulls.