The Chicago Bulls will reportedly explore trades for guard Zach LaVine and center Nikola Vucevic later this season, according to ESPN’s Jamal Collier. Chicago’s strategy is to build around forward/guard Josh Giddey, who the Bulls acquired from the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for veteran guard Alex Caruso during the offseason.
Chicago Bulls players Zach LaVine, Nikola Vucevic have spent the majority of the past year on the trade block
Chicago is still expected to evaluate trade options for LaVine and Vucevic before the deadline, but “the focus now is for both players to rebound after disappointing 2023-2024 seasons,” Collier wrote. If both players manage to stay healthy and perform well, that would also boost their trade value.
“We’ve got pieces,” Giddey said. “It’s not like we’re starting from scratch. It’s a really talented group and whether that’s the first week or the 15th, or somewhere in between, we’ll be where we’re meant to be… We are all buying into what we’re trying to do here.”
However, LaVine and Vucevic have spent most of the past year on the trade block with no sign of movement. LaVine, 29, is more difficult to trade because of his five-year, $215.16 million contract. He’s earning $43.03 million this season. His deal also includes a $48.97 million player option for 2026-27.
Meanwhile, Vucevic is currently signed to a three-year, $60 million deal. The 34-year-old is owed $20 million this season and $21.48 million in 2025-26. For that logical reason, Vucevic is cheaper and easier to trade than LaVine.
Vucevic is more likely to be traded before LaVine
Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer recently asked an NBA general manager which trade proposals he’d consider to acquire Vucevic. The GM responded with “a couple of second-round picks.”
Fischer also said trading Vucevic during the season is more realistic for the Bulls than moving LaVine. NBA insider Marc Stein echoed Fischer’s latest report in July, stating that a Vucevic deal is “more likely to materialize.”
In addition to his large contract, LaVine was limited to 25 games last season due to a foot injury that required surgery. He has only hit the 70-game threshold in a season once since 2016-17 (77 in 2022-23).
LaVine was healthy to start the season and averaged 22.7 points per game on 49.5% shooting from the field and 45.8% from 3-point range in six starts. However, he has missed the past two games due to a right adductor strain.
As for Vucevic, through nine games (all starts) this season, he’s averaging 21.2 points, 10.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 32 minutes per contest while shooting career highs of 58.1% from the floor, 47.5% from deep, and 88% at the free throw line.
The NBA trade deadline is Feb. 6, 2025, at 3 p.m. ET.
