It's been a resurgent year for 34-year-old big man Nikola Vucevic. After ranking 172nd in true shooting percentage amongst 193 who qualified a year ago, Vucevic is 13th of 199 players, recording an otherworldly 65.0 true shooting percentage. If you were to eliminate those shooting less than three triples per game, Vooch would rank fourth.
There's no question that Vooch is in the midst of a stellar campaign. It hasn't gone unnoticed, as several teams have expressed interest in the sharpshooting center. First, the Phoenix Suns were said to be interested in swapping their current starter, Jusuf Nurkic, for Vucevic. However, a trade to Phoenix is far from simple as the Suns are a cash-strapped second-apron team incapable of taking in more salary than shelling out.—ruling out a straight Vucevic for Nurkic swap.
Besides the implausible Suns, the Golden State Warriors have shown a continued interest in acquiring the Montenegrin big man. Although there's been a fair amount of chatter linking disgruntled Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler to the Warriors, it's since been revealed that the Warriors are no longer determined to acquire the 6-foot-7 forward.
Nikola Vucevic is the most discussed Warriors' trade target
According to The Athletic, Golden State is not "currently seen as a viable option" for the Heat to initiate a trade revolving around Butler. The Warriors reportedly favor their wing duo, consisting of Andrew Wiggins and Jonathan Kuminga, over the 35-year-old Butler. Instead of acquiring a wing earning north of $50 million, Golden State's true interest is a reasonably priced stretch center.
The Athletic went on to name Vucevic as the Warriors' "more discussed…trade target." The front office is reportedly inclined to add a sweet-shooting big man to open up space for Steph Curry, Wiggins, and Kuminga to operate in the halfcourt. Plus, Vucevic's defensive deficiencies would be well-hidden on a team ranking in the top 10 in defensive rating and opponent's points per game, field goal percentage, and three-point percentage.
The Warriors have typically trotted out 6-foot-9 Trayce Jackson-Davis as their starting five. While the 24-year-old forward has held up quite well as the starting pivot, he doesn't provide the least bit of floor spacing. Jackson-Davis has attempted only two three-pointers in 100 career games. Furthermore, less than one percent of Jackson-Davis's career field-goal attempts have come from further than 10 feet. The Indiana product is an interior scoring specialist who's primary shot method is a dunk.
Vucevic adds an entirely different dimension to the Warriors' offense. While the Steph Curry and Steve Kerr-led Warriors have typically been known as a knockdown three-point shooting squad, that isn't exactly the case this season. Golden State launches a good amount of triples, ranking fourth in the NBA. However, Golden State ranks 15th in the association in three-point conversion rate at 36.5 percent.
A trade to Golden State is reasonable for both parties
Most importantly, the Warriors, unlike the Suns among other teams, are a reasonable trade partner. Golden State falls under the first salary cap apron and thus can aggregate multiple players in a trade. Although the Warriors cannot take on more salary than they send out, Vucevic's relatively modest $20 million pact is workable.
There are several different packages Golden State could dangle to tempt the Bulls. Chicago likely prefers a draft pick in exchange for Vooch, which are somewhat plentiful in the Bay Area. Golden State owns seven tradeable first-rounders and three second-rounders.
Plus, a player such as Moses Moody would likely interest the Bulls' brass. Even though Moody signed a three-year, $39 million extension with the Warriors in the offseason, Kerr and Co have been hesitant to increase the former Razorback's playing time. Moody averages only 15.9 minutes per game this season. Despite the limited playing time, Moody averages 8.0 points and 1.4 three-pointers per game.
If Chicago decides on a package revolving around the 22-year-old Moody is the way to go, don't expect a first-rounder in return. However, if the Bulls take on Kyle Anderson, who signed a three-year, $27 million pact in the offseason, a first-round pick could very well be a part of the equation. Anderson has seen a decrease in playing time as of late and is averaging only 5.1 points while shooting 42.9 percent from the field—both near career-low marks.
All in all, Golden State emerging as a primary suitor for Vucevic is compelling for the Bulls. Although the Warriors aren't as asset-rich as other squads, they're a viable destination financially in the market for a floor-spacing big—which is exactly what Chicago should be looking for. Also, the Warriors possess several intriguing players and draft picks the Bulls could demand in exchange for the two-time All-Star.