The Chicago Bulls must finally trade Nikola Vucevic this offseason and should draft Derik Queen as his replacement, even if it means trading up for the 12th overall pick. The 20-year-old is coming off an extremely productive season at Maryland and profiles as a similar player to Vuc if he reaches his immense ceiling. It is time for Chicago to rip the Band-Aid off and send Vuc packing for a younger option.
It may not happen. Arturas Karnisovas and his front office are difficult to predict, and the rumored asking price for Vucevic remains too steep. The Bulls should be entering a rebuild, and the 35-year-old former All-Star is in the final year of his contract. Unless the franchise plans to re-sign him, it is time to move on.
Queen’s offensive game has scouts drooling. He can handle the ball, finish with either hand, make plays, and dominate in the post. Developing his jumper into a consistent threat makes him virtually unstoppable, and it is why the Bulls should move into the top ten if that is what it takes to draft him.
Bulls should draft Derik Queen to replace Nikola Vucevic
Queen would be a stellar fit with Josh Giddey in Chicago. He could become an outstanding roll man and floor spacer in time. Queen could punish mismatches and grow into the stretch five the Bulls will need to make Giddey most effective.
There are defensive questions. Queen measured at 6’9 and would be an undersized five in the NBA. He played deep drop almost exclusively in college, but that will be a problem in the NBA. Queen must get comfortable guarding ball screens and using his tools to become average or above on this end of the floor. He is a 20-year-old big man, so significant growth on this end of the floor is realistic, even if his size limits him from being an elite defender.
The Bulls are clearly not worried about defense at the five. Vucevic struggles on that end of the floor and has been their starting option since he was acquired in 2021. Chicago should get Queen in the building and focus on helping him reach his ceiling as an offensive monster who holds his own on the defensive end.
The 2025 NBA Draft is uncertain at this stage. Derik Queen may still be on the board when the Bulls select at 12th overall. Some mocks have him going in the top ten and others in the late lottery. It is too soon to know for certain, but the price to move up a few spots should not be outrageous. Chicago must consider it to lock in their starting big man of the present and future.
The Chicago Bulls face a crucial offseason. They need to extend Josh Giddey and keep adding talent to their roster. It won’t be easy, but trading Nikola Vucevic and drafting Queen would be a strong start. Stay tuned to see what the Bulls can actually pull off.