After years of moans and groans, there's some optimism peeking through in Chicago. The Bulls accumulated a 39-43 record this past season. While a bit underwhelming, it's the same record Chicago posted a season ago with a more veteran-laden, expensive team.
This past season, Chicago relied on internal improvement and launched a rebuild. Thus, 39 wins are far impressive, considering the circumstances. The Bulls' offseason addition, Josh Giddey, proved a worthwhile investment and a foundational piece of the puzzle moving forward. At 22 years old, Bulls fans will see much more of the triple-double threat for years to come, barring Chicago's decision not to retain the point guard in free agency—an unexpected outcome.
Moreover, Coby White transformed from a third option to a first option in the blink of an eye. After playing third fiddle to DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine, White finally got his chance to shine after the trade deadline. He made the most of his newfound role, upping his efficiency while scoring more points than ever before. The 6-foot-5 guard averaged 24.5 points post-All-Star break.
Nikola Vucevic proved he's still a great player at 34-years-old
The lone remaining Bull to average north of 15.0 points per game is on a much different trajectory than Giddey or White. That player, Nikola Vucevic, is 34 years old and will turn 35 as next season begins. While Vucevic's production suggests he's the final piece of a big three alongside the two breakout guards, a different lens must be used when assessing the aging big man.
Averaging a double-double while shooting above 50 percent from the floor and 40 percent from three is nothing short of amazing. Vooch's 18.5 points, 10.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.8 three-pointers were matched by only one other player—Nikola Jokic.
Still, regardless of how well Vucevic played last year, the Bulls must be hellbent on flipping him to a contender, or a team in need of frontcourt reinforcements, for draft compensation. The soon-to-be 35-year-old big man doesn't fit Chicago's timeline, and in Vucevic's case, he deserves better. The 6-foot-10 center has appeared in only 16 playoff games in his 14-year career.
Vucevic made his postseason intentions known during his exit interview. The big man lamented, "Obviously, I’m at the stage in my career where I’m trying to win now, play in the playoffs, and hopefully have deep playoff runs."
Vucevic doesn't fit Chicago's rebuilding timeline
Assuming the Bulls will make a deep playoff run before Vucevic's contract expires requires the utmost confidence. The big man has a year remaining on his current pact before he hits free agency in the 2026 offseason. Chicago's 2024-25 campaign was solid, yet unspectacular, considering they were ousted in the Play-In Tournament.
Instead of keeping the big man around, re-engaging in trade talks would be the most logical decision. Chicago notably dangled Vooch in trade discussions ahead of last season's trade deadline to no avail. However, a trade between the Bulls and Golden State Warriors nearly came to fruition. The Bulls' insistence on receiving a first-round pick ultimately disintegrated the deal.
Regardless of whether Chicago can poach a first-rounder from a rival, a trade must be accomplished this offseason. Namely, Vucevic doesn't fit the Bulls' emerging timeline, but also because he wasn't that impactful in Chicago. The Bulls were 2.3 points per 100 possessions worse with Vucevic on the floor. Vucevic's minus-2.4 net rating was the second-worst among regular starters.
Instead of retaining the soon-to-be 35-year-old, the time to trade him is now. Vucevic only has a year left on his contract, at a reasonable $21.4 million. Sending the big man to a team in need of frontcourt help should top the Bulls' offseason priorities.