Chicago Bulls: Nikola Vucevic is a force to steal more possessions

Nikola Vucevic, Chicago Bulls Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports
Nikola Vucevic, Chicago Bulls Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports /
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Getting the Chicago Bulls to new heights is the mindset that helped to bring so much star power to this franchise of late. Some of the players brought in by the front office since the trade deadline last season include star center Nikola Vucevic, shooting guard/forward DeMar DeRozan, point guard Lonzo Ball, etc., with that school of thought in place.

And the initial big addition that the Bulls had since the trade deadline was the former Orlando Magic two-time All-Star big man Vucevic. Most people thought that the Bulls did well to help the win-now mentality by bringing in Vooch to give star shooting guard Zach LaVine a legit All-Star caliber running mate in Chicago.

But there was also a school of thought that the Bulls gave up way too much to get Vooch in the mix. The Bulls did give up some key pieces of the previous young core and a host of draft picks at the deadline last season to get players in return such as Vooch from the Magic and shooting guard/small forward Troy Brown Jr. from the Washington Wizards.

What is clear for the Bulls is that adding Vooch to the mix is going to do nothing but help this team continue to find more success in the win column right away. Vooch is a great scorer from the paint and from downtown, a good rebounder, and very capable in the pick and screen-and-roll game that head coach Billy Donovan likes to run so much.

Vooch is also good in the dribble-handoff offensive scheme, which is good for the Donovan-style playbook.

But his rebounding ability is one of the most underestimated parts of his game. Vooch statistically is almost as good of a rebounder as he is as a scorer. And that is especially true on the offensive glass.

Last season between his time with the Bulls and Magic, Vooch averaged nearly a dozen rebounds per game, a little more than two of which came on the offensive glass. He’s also averaged north of 2.5 offensive rebounds per game in his career to date.

And down the stretch last season, Vooch posted an offensive rebounding percentage at nearly 8.0 during his time with the Bulls. If he were able to register that offensive rebounding percentage throughout the entire season, that would put him among the top 20 eligible players in the entire league.

What is crazy about the numbers that Vooch put up in this regard last season is the fact that he posted an offensive rebounding percentage at 7.8 with the Bulls, and a 7.8 turnover percentage. It’s really rare that you get a big man like Vooch that carries a career usage rate north of 25.0 percent that posts the same offensive rebounding percentage as a turnover percentage.

Nikola Vucevic can help the Chicago Bulls win the battle on the offensive glass

Just to see how many possessions Vooch not only helps the Bulls keep, but how many he gets back, you can look at both that ratio of offensive rebounding percentage to turnover rate and the percentile sits in for offensive rebounding numbers.

According to Cleaning the Glass (paid content), Vooch’s offensive rebounding percentage and turnover rate in terms of on/off numbers last season with the Bulls both ranked in the 75th percentile or better. And that trend has held firm pretty well throughout the entirety of Vooch’s career in the NBA.

The main question mark concerning Vooch heading into next season will be what he can do without veteran forward Thaddeus Young playing next to him at the four. The Bulls had the most effective offensive rebounding lineup that also minimized turnovers at a good rate with the frontcourt unit of Young and Vooch.

Whether it be DeRozan or Patrick Williams starting alongside Vooch at the four heading into next season, the Bulls aren’t going to be as effective on the offensive glass as they were last season with Young in the mix. There could be some minutes on the horizon for Vooch to play with someone like newly signed power forward Alize Johnson, who is a great rebounder in his own right and can help pull down some more contested boards.

Vooch himself will be a force that helps to create some extra possessions either way without compromising the Bulls too much in terms of untimely turnovers. He is one of the top 15 active players in the NBA in terms of career offensive rebounding percentage, and that will be a force for good next season for the Bulls.

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Vooch, Donovan, and the Bulls are set to begin Training Camp roughly one week from now, specifically on Sep. 28. And then, the Bulls are set to open up the preseason slate on Oct. 5 at home at the United Center on Oct. 5 against the Cleveland Cavaliers.