With the fog clearing from the mystery of LeBron James' next NBA franchise home, and the ripple effects the move could have triggered, such as free agent forward Draymond Green joining forces with James, or Washington Wizards center Anthony Davis getting traded to James new NBA team, there are now roster considerations to weigh as it relates to Davis and his future in Washington.
Anthony Davis becomes extension eligible on Aug 04, 2026, and it’s more likely than not that Davis receiving a Wizards contract extension will trigger salary cap ripple effects within the franchise to avoid luxury tax or apron penalties. For reference, Anthony Davis’ 2028 free agency cap hold is estimated at $66.9 million.
If the Washington Wizards decide to enact what is increasingly becoming a standard NBA front office practice, shedding salary to accommodate large contract players, then Wizards center Tristan Vukcevic could be a worthwhile flyer candidate for the Bulls to consider adding to their rebuilding roster.
The 2027-28 NBA season represents the final year of Vukcevic’s Wizards contract, which is a non-guaranteed team option for $3 million. Going into the 2027 NBA offseason, the Wizards have until Jun 29, 2027, to decide whether to exercise or decline Vukcevic’s team option.
Evaluating Vukcevic’s positives and negatives
Vukcevic is a center in a somewhat svelte positional frame at a height of 7’0” and 220 pounds. Although he loves to shoot, averaging a career 7.6 three-point attempts per 36 mins, Vukcevic has yet to demonstrate he has the corresponding three-point accuracy (34.8%) to command respect as a shooter on an opponent's scouting report.
What Vukcevic is commanding in his game is a respectable presence in the playmaking aspects of NBA defense. In his NBA career, Vukcevic averages 1.1 steals per 36 minutes and 1.7 blocks per 36 minutes according to Basketball Reference.
Also, another attractive aspect of Vukcevic’s offensive game is his ability to get to the free-throw line. Vukcevic holds a career free-throw attempt average of 6.0 free-throw attempts per 36 minutes.
Vukcevic could potentially be coached into a more effective Bulls role in which he focuses his offense on attacking the paint more than the three-point line to boost his shot efficiency and compound his scoring with a good free-throw drawing ability.
Additionally, Vukcevic’s ability to impact the game as a big on the defensive end should give him a great foundation for the Bulls' player development staff to unlock impact in his game that he has yet to fully reach in Washington.
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