As the Chicago Bulls stare down the realities of Father Time and the timeline along which they're otherwise operating, Danny Wolf looks the part of the perfect Nikola Vucevic replacement.
Vucevic is preparing for his 15th NBA season, during which he'll turn 35 years of age. Considering Jevon Carter is the only other player on the Bulls who will be older than 28 at the start of the 2025-26 season, Vucevic is toeing the thin line between veteran leader and needing a change of scenery.
Thankfully for Chicago, it's equipped with the No. 12 overall selection in the 2025 NBA Draft—and could thus find Vucevic's replacement as soon as June 25.
Wolf is near the top of the list of options to help the Bulls prepare for life after Vucevic. He's one of the most intriguing players in the 2025 NBA Draft, possessing a well-rounded skill set that fits both traditional and modern molds for NBA bigs.
If Wolf is still available at No. 12 overall, then it would behoove Chicago to take a chance on the untapped potential of a player who can fill perhaps the most significant long-term void on the roster.
Danny Wolf represents a Bulls future beyond Nikola Vucevic
Wolf checks in with prototypical measurements at 6'10.5" and 252 pounds with a 7'2.25" wingspan. Vucevic has a longer wingspan at 7'5", but they're otherwise remarkably similar players from a prospect-age perspective—including their size, weight, and intriguing skill sets.
Wolf is an excellent rebounder and quality defensive presence, but much like Vucevic, it's his offensive versatility that makes him an ideal fit.
Wolf finished his junior season averaging 13.2 points, 9.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.4 blocks, 0.7 steals, and 1.0 three-point field goal made per game. Beyond the numbers, he displayed the ability to put the ball on the floor, attack a set defense, and either finish in traffic or find the open man.
Wolf is also a more than respectable shooter who could fit the bill of a floor-spacing big at the next level, complementing that invaluable trait with isolation upside.
That adaptability on offense would make Wolf an ideal complement to the likes of Matas Buzelis and Coby White. He has the willingness to set screens to help his teammates get the looks they're searching for, as well as the skill to make plays when the ball finds his hands.
Wolf has also proven to be an excellent rebounder, with commendable production on both ends of the floor.
Center is a deeper position in 2025 than it has been in recent years, with the likes of Khaman Maluach, Derik Queen, and Thomas Sorber likely on Chicago's radar. In terms of who's projected to be available and how quickly they could learn from Vucevic, however, Wolf clearly fits the bill of what the Bulls have prioritized at center.
It's possible that the Bulls will embrace a different ideology at the center position, but if they're looking to replace Vucevic, Wolf is their best shot at doing so in the 2025 NBA Draft.