Nikola Vucevic has stated on several occasions that he'll start this season in Chicago, but the 34-year-old center has also acknowledged that doesn't mean he'll end the year as a member of the Bulls.
The 14-year veteran has seen his name spin around the rumor mill for the last few seasons. At least. He's entering the final year of a three-year, $60 million extension he signed with the Bulls in 2023, which means he's crept even further up the list of tradeable names (or contracts).
Chicago has rebuilt its roster, sending away Alex Caruso, DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine in the past 12 months while stocking up on young, versatile athletes. Along with those alterations came a change in scheme; the Bulls morphed from one of the most half-court-centric teams in the league two seasons ago into one that played at the second-fastest pace in the NBA last year.
None of that is particularly conducive to the kind of game Vucevic is comfortable playing.
He's been around long enough to understand how the business side of basketball works, and with all the above factors in play, he is aware that the end of his tenure in the Windy City could come any day.
Nikola Vucevic comments on potential in-season trade, buyout
In a piece that ran on Eurohoops.net ahead of this year's EuroBasket 2025, Vucevic elaborated on why he's certain he'll be in a Bulls uniform to start the season but can't guarantee that's how he'll end it:
"Yes, I have almost no doubt [I'll be with the Bulls]. That’s the mindset I’m preparing in. After that, we’ll see, I don’t know what will happen. ... There are always rumors. Most are false. It’s a bit of nonsense. For example, the buyout rumor was misinterpreted in Europe. I know how the business works: in the final year of a contract, there are always speculations."Bulls center Nikola Vucevic
For what it's worth, in his Montenegro squad's most recent exhibition game against Israel, Vucevic did his usual double-double thing, dropping 27 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. He's still got it.
Which makes the two-time all-star's next comments even more interesting: "I'd like to try to play for a team with ambitions of winning the NBA title."
Well, that isn't happening in Chicago anytime soon, and certainly not next season. That means Vucevic would have to exit stage right if he wants to reach the league's pinnacle before he retires.
Even in his advanced basketball age, Vooch remains a productive player. He appeared in 73 games last season and averaged 18.5 points and 10.1 rebounds while shooting a career-best 40.2 percent from three. He can help a championship contender, but, for whatever reason, he's getting no real attention on the trade market.
So maybe he's just calling his shot: A buyout is best for everyone involved.