This could be a win-win scenario for both Vooch and the Bulls.
The Chicago Bulls have a long offseason ahead of them, with every decision they make having a significant bearing on how the team fares next season and beyond it. One dilemma the team’s decision-makers must tackle is the free agency of big man Nikola Vucevic. As he will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, reports indicate that the Bulls are keen on bringing the double-double machine back. The more pressing question, though, is at what cost?
Short term deal
According to NBC Sports Chicago’s KC Johnson, the Bulls can pull this off, provided they don’t take a sizable salary cap hit. After all, it won’t be a good look for management to lose a player who they mortgaged their immediate future for in a trade back in 2020.
“I think a good solution might be to do a short-term deal at slightly above his 2022-23 salary,” Johnson wrote. “Say, two years and $48-50 million or three years at $66-72 million. Remember: Letting Vucevic walk for nothing after what the Bulls gave up to acquire him would be a bad look. And for all the focus on Vucevic’s shortcomings, he remains a durable, double-double machine who has the s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁 level and IQ to fit with various personnel.”
Careful thought
Vucevic remains a solid player who averaged a double-double of 17.6 points and 11 rebounds per game. It was even more impressive that in an era of increased load management, the veteran big man played all 82 games during the regular season. However, with reports stating that Vucevic may ask for a raise, it is imperative for the Bulls to negotiate a price with which they still keep their flexibility.
