There are two weeks until the trade deadline. Repeat. Two weeks. Whoa, February 5 has crept up, hasn’t it? And yet, with barely any trade chatter, it’s hard to see any deals actually taking shape.
Trae Young has already been shipped to the nation’s capital, which definitely came out of nowhere. But besides that trade, it’s been mostly crickets. Anthony Davis’ name keeps popping up, even linked to his hometown Chicago Bulls. Other names to watch include Giannis Antetokounmpo, Michael Porter Jr., Ja Morant, and LaMelo Ball, but it doesn’t feel like any of them have a serious suitor. Whether it’s a team’s reluctance to move a star (Antetokounmpo, Porter Jr.) or a lack of interest from rivals (Morant, Ball), this trade season could end up a dud.
Anything can happen in the NBA
Still, it’s the NBA, anything can happen. Just ask Dallas Mavericks fans, who saw their team make the shocking decision to part ways with superstar Luka Doncic at last season’s deadline. That’s why we won’t take trade rumors lightly. In this league, surprises are always around the corner.
As for the Bulls, Ayo Dosunmu, Tre Jones, Nikola Vucevic, and Coby White have all been mentioned as potential trade candidates. Three of the four have expiring contracts, making a trade highly plausible. Jones is the only player signed beyond this season, but at $8 million per year, he remains an attractive target for other teams.
Yet, using the Bulls and plausible in the same sentence is… well… not plausible. Chicago has notoriously zigged while the rest of the league zagged in recent seasons. But not by making ill-advised moves, but by staying idle despite repeated losing records.
Bulls eye Yves Missi
Nonetheless, a recent report from NBA insider Jake Fischer should give Bulls fans a jolt of optimism. According to Fischer, Chicago is interested in New Orleans Pelicans big man Yves Missi, who has also been linked to trade rumors of his own.
Missi is said to be generating the most interest among the Pelicans’ available players, and rightfully so. At just 21 years old and in only his second NBA season, he impressed as a rookie, earning an All-Rookie Second Team nod while averaging 9.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game. This season, however, his production has dipped to 5.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks in just 18.8 minutes per game following a regime change.
New Orleans completely revamped its front office ahead of the 2025–26 season, hiring Joe Dumars as president of basketball operations. Dumars then traded up in the 2025 NBA Draft to select Maryland’s Derik Queen, a frontcourt player. With Zion Williamson already on the roster, the Pelicans have prioritized Williamson and Queen, pushing Missi into a bench role.
With Missi on the way out, the Bulls have made the savvy decision to show interest. He’s the exact type of center Chicago needs—a lob threat and intimidating shot-blocker. In 111 career games, Missi has recorded 144 dunks and 148 blocks. This season, the Pelicans are 5.6 points per 100 possessions better defensively with him on the floor.
Furthermore, Missi fits Chicago’s timeline perfectly. At 21, he’s the same age as Matas Buzelis and two years younger than Josh Giddey. Unlike a draft pick, Missi comes with proven NBA-level talent, making him an ideal addition for a team looking to compete now and develop for the future.
Nikola Vucevic and the missed opportunity
It’s not like the Bulls have a gaping hole at center, not yet, anyway. Vucevic is still around, and so are Jalen Smith, who’s having a great season, and Zach Collins. But finding a solution here wouldn’t take a rocket scientist. Vucevic, as mentioned, is on an expiring contract. At 35 years old, he won’t be around much longer in Chicago. So… trade him!
But before we dive into a potential Vucevic trade, let’s go back to Fischer’s report. After noting Chicago’s interest in Missi, he wrote: "It makes sense for the Bulls to be looking at possible centers of the future, knowing that Nikola Vucevic is in the final year of his contract. Multiple sources this week stressed that it's now unlikely that Vucevic gets dealt before the deadline."
That sounds counterproductive, though. Vucevic is in the final year of his contract, so shouldn’t he be traded? Well, considering the current sentiment, it’s safe to assume the former All-Star just doesn’t have many suitors. It could be that teams are waiting until he hits unrestricted free agency to make a move, so they won’t have to part with any assets to acquire him. Makes sense… sort of.
There’s also an argument to be made for trading Vucevic before an offseason bidding war ensues, something that could happen, according to Fischer. The insider wrote: "It's believed that Vucevic, should he enter free agency this summer after playing out his three-year deal with the Bulls, will generate some strong interest from teams looking at a longtime starter believed to be open to a more complementary role in the right situation … similar to Al Horford during last summer's free agency."
Just as the Bulls seem poised to make a savvy move, they manage to shoot themselves in the foot. Trading Vucevic should be a foregone conclusion—he won’t be in the Windy City for the 2026–27 season. Even for a future second-rounder, the Bulls should deal him now rather than risk losing him for nothing. So much for Missi news.