NBA Rumors: Bulls Seeking 1st-Round Draft Pick in Possible Nikola Vučević Trade
December 14, 2024
The Chicago Bulls are reportedly seeking draft picks in return for one of their veterans.
Per NBA insider Marc Stein, the Bulls are looking for a first-round pick in return for center Nikola Vučević after Chicago failed to get draft picks when it traded Alex Caruso to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Josh Giddey over the offseason.
Vučević could yield a high return given the fantastic start to the season he's had. The 15-year veteran is averaging 21 points on 58.7 percent from the field and 47.4 percent from deep while hauling in 9.8 boards per game, on track for one of the best seasons of his career.
A trade would give Vučević a chance to potentially play for a playoff contender while helping the Bulls build for the future amid an 11-15 start to the year.
Chicago has been somewhat conservative in the trade market over the past few years. The deal that sent Caruso to the Thunder for Giddey was the first time the Bulls had conducted a trade since 2021 when they dealt Lauri Markkanen to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a three-team trade that landed them Derrick Jones Jr.
The Bulls, who have been to the playoffs just twice since 2016, could seemingly change the way they approach trades as they continue their rebuild.
Though Chicago didn't get any picks from the Thunder during the offseason, it owns the Portland Trail Blazers first-round pick in 2025 thanks to the Markkanen deal, which could very well be a lottery pick given Portland's 8-17 start to the season.
Landing another first-round pick in next year's draft could be worth parting with Vučević considering the 2025 draft class, highlighted by Duke star Cooper Flagg, has plenty of talent.