Tier 2: Probably safe, unless a strong offer comes along
- Nikola Vucevic
- Alex Caruso
- Coby White
- Ayo Dosunmu
From the moment the Bulls traded Wendell Carter Jr. and two first-round picks for the two-time All-Star, Nikola Vucevic has been a controversial figure among the fandom. While I can’t say I’ve always been the biggest supporter of Vucevic, I do feel rather confident that he played himself off the trade block last season. Vooch was far more efficient from all areas of the court and became that reliable third option this team needed in crucial moments.
After signing a three-year extension at the end of June, the Bulls can’t trade Vucevic before January 15 even if they wanted to. The same also applies to Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu, who were interestingly enough also inked to deals that take them through the 2025-26 season. I expect Chicago to keep this core together for as long as they reasonably can.
Alex Caruso, on the other hand, is an interesting case to watch here. Although he’d certainly fetch at least one first-round pick in a trade, the Bulls have been unwilling to move the All-Defensive First Team member for anything short of a haul. Chicago has indicated they’d move him for the right price, but it seems that the “right price” may be a bit more exorbitant than any team would be willing to offer.