Chicago Bulls: Nikola Vucevic provides the much needed star for the core
The biggest deal of trade deadline day thus far around the NBA landscape came about when the Chicago Bulls made a deal with the Orlando Magic to land star big man Nikola Vucevic. This is the biggest star the Bulls have acquired on the trade deadline in recent memory. And it’s one of the biggest trade deals that was ever made in franchise history.
For the most part, the Bulls tended to remain quiet on the trade market throughout the entire history of this franchise.
However, that trend changed on the morning of March 25 as the Bulls completely shifted the direction of their rebuild. Landing Vucevic gives the Bulls a second star to pair alongside first-time All-Star selection and shooting guard Zach LaVine.
Here's the deal: The Bulls land Nikola Vucevic and Al Farouq Aminu for Otto Porter, Wendell Carter Jr., and two first-round picks. Huge addition for Chicago, who remains in pursuit of Lonzo Ball. The Magic are moving toward a rebuild now with Aaron Gordon deal on deck.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 25, 2021
But that wasn’t the only part of the deal for the Bulls and the Magic. There were multiple players and picks moved as it looks like a full-on rebuild is about to be undertaken in Orlando.
Meat of the deal for the Chicago Bulls getting Nikola Vucevic
Clearly, the main part of this big splash trade deal on the morning of the deadline was Vucevic. But the Magic also sent forward Al-Farouq Aminu to the Bulls in this trade. In return, the Bulls shipped off veteran small forward Otto Porter Jr., center Wendell Carter Jr., and two first round draft picks.
That is a lot of future draft capital for the Bulls to give up. But they get a true star that was one of the most underrated big men still in the NBA in Vucevic. It was about time that the Bulls front office made moves that could booth boost the core of this team and get them much closer to playoff contention in the Eastern Conference in the same swing.
There were expectations that if the Bulls moved anyone at the trade deadline, it made the most sense to part ways with OPJ since he’s currently in the final year of his contract. WCJ also got moved to the bench after the All-Star Break, and he’s about to enter the final year of his rookie contract.
This move will be very popular with Bulls fans, as this team has about the best look to it since the old front office regime of John Paxson and Gar Forman parted ways with Jimmy Butler back during the 2017 offseason. Vucevic is a seriously impactful addition that can help this team right away.
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Karnisovas and the Bulls might not be done on deadline day either. ESPN NBA inside Adrian Wojnarowski reported after this trade deal went down that the Bulls front office could still pursue a trade with the New Orleans Pelicans for point guard Lonzo Ball on March 25.