The Bulls have opened up contract extension negotiations with center Nikola Vucevic, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic, who reports that the two sides have mutual interest in working out a new deal.
Vucevic is headed for unrestricted free agency in a month, but remains eligible to sign an extension with the Bulls between now and June 30, before he officially reaches the open market.
Certain extension-eligible players who are on track for free agency, such as Jerami Grant and Fred VanVleet, are unlikely to reach deals with their respective teams by June 30 because the current limits on veteran extensions – including a starting salary worth up to 120% of the player’s previous salary – don’t allow for the sort of contracts they may receive in free agency.
That’s probably not the case for Vucevic though. If he were to sign a veteran extension, he could receive a starting salary worth up to $26.4MM on a deal that covers as many as four years. The 32-year-old seems unlikely to exceed either of those figures in free agency, so it makes sense that he and the Bulls will see if they can come to terms in the coming weeks.
A two-time All-Star, Vucevic has seen his production dip a little since being traded from Orlando to Chicago in 2021, but put up solid numbers in 2022/23. Starting all 82 games for the Bulls, he registered 17.6 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per contest, matching his exact averages from ’21/22. He scored more efficiently this past season than he did a year ago, bumping his shooting line to .520/.349/.835.
It would be difficult for the Bulls to open up meaningful cap room to replace Vucevic in free agency if he were to leave outright, so it’s no surprise that the team is exploring whether it will be possible to retain the big man at a reasonable price. If the two sides don’t reach an agreement by June 30, Vucevic will be one of the top available centers on the free agent market.
4 years, $48 million.
I can’t see him getting more than Jusuf Nurkic, or Clint Capela type money. Even those deals may be a little high considering Vucevic is an older player, and when put into a rotation with other stars underwhelmed like many thought.
Sad part is Wendell Carter is a Mobile defender, and could potentially provide a lot more of what Chicago needs right now, and is younger.
That trade will stick with Chicago for a while.
Only good part of that trade is Orlando isn’t going aywhere, anytime soon, so it’s not a getting knocked out of the playoffs, or trading a valued lottery pick for squat type situation
Vučević started all 82 games at 32 years old last season and has been a walking double/double for several seasons. It’s been several seasons since either Nurkić, Capela or Carter played in 70 games.
He’s bad on defense while the rest with the exception of Capela are stellar are that end of the floor. He played fine with LaVine and DeRozan on the offensive end. His ability to stretch the floor gave LaVine lanes to get to the hoop and DeRozan space to shoot his midrange shots.
I’d give him probably a little more per season than Capela or Nurkić with a shorter contract. Somewhere in the range of 3/$60 million with a partial guarantee for the 3rd season.
I can hardly watch that train wreck in Chicago.
If Vucevic gets $20 million there is no hope for atleast a decade in the windy city
Yes, giving Vuc 20M for a few years will ruin Chicago for a decade. Obviously.
He is an absolutely horrific defensive player. Teams feast on him especially during close games.
A team that continues on a road to nowhere!
It’s not like they have much hope anyway. Their only real hope is to try and sucker people into overpaying for LaVine or DeRozan. Lonzo may never play again. Williams has talent but often seems unmotivated. Dosunmu is fine, but no star. It’s really just a crapshoot for the Bulls at this point.
With the new CBA looming no team should be doing any deals beyond 2 years. There are two many unknowns. 2 years 30 million sounds about right ✅️
What’s unknown ?
This is actually hilarious. How many years of below average basketball does Chicago have to play before they give up on running it back?
It’s been clear to everyone except their GM for years that the big 3 of Vuc, DeRozan, LaVine can’t win a damn thing
My guess would be one season as they were well above average at 46-36 in the 2021-2022 season.
Thank you for being logical, unlike most people on here.
The Bulls, as currently constructed, were a really good team with a 3&D facilitator like Ball, he was exactly what they needed and fit this team so well.
Losing him has really hurt and stunted this team’s growth. Not to mention, there was a reason Ball got his deal, he isn’t easily replaced. The Bulls haven’t been able to find their PG to replace Ball as they went all-in in order to get him and put this team together.
Even with a fairly competent 3&D PG like Pat Beverly, you immediately saw this team make some swift improvements.
People act like this has been a “garbage” show from the very beginning. When they were even somewhat healthy, although still missing White and Patrick Williams they were FIRST in the East. That wasn’t an accident, it was because the players that were acquired were able to play in the roles they were originally designed to play in. Once Ball was removed from the equation, it became a mess to try and fill the giant hole he left at PG, as a reliable 3pt threat, and as a versatile, lock-down perimeter defender…
These guys really think they can just run it back with everyone and a healthy Lonzo? I just don’t see it. Even if Lonzo returns, I doubt he will be close to 100% again. I get that the team doesn’t have a lot of options with salary cap and draft pick situation, but this just feels like AKME going “everything is fine”
I’ll keep saying it. The Bulls are easily one of the five worst situations in the league right now.
I suspect this isn’t even about running it back, it’s just about asset retention. As an over the cap team, if they let him walk they have no way of replacing him, and they don’t have another big man on the roster. Maybe they can get something for him in a S&T, but if not they should resign him while exploring trading Demar, Caruso, and even Lavine. Then in a year or so, see if they can trade Vuc for value. But if they’re smart enough to focus on the future, it’s worth the gamble that he’ll have trade value down the line vs just letting him walk out the door for nothing.
Caruso is the only player with positive value relative to salary. ZL is suspect due to injury risk and loss of oomph since returning. DD is reliable but midrange specialists are still out of style. Bulls are forked
I am no Lavine fan, but if ‘oomph’ Is what you are looking for, he has it back pretty much since mid-season. He is an injury risk and a liability on defense though.
They have to bring him back for two reasons. One it looks awful to give up what they did for him but also if they resign white they going to be an over the cap team anyway, resign vooch. See who wants the full mid-level, Dillon brooks, Bruce brown, Joe Ingles, Torrey Craig. maybe pat bev back on a minimum salary. Run it back, if you not top 4 at the deadline pull the plug.
Looks like another instance of too much 2k, too often.
Of course the FO should meet with Vucevic and discuss a new contract. He is a very good player, an excellent blend of power and skill. He’s not a rim protecter (and thus lacks a premium skill at his position), but he’s certainly not a bad defender. He is not really CHI’s problem on either end.
Whether a new contract for him will be an asset or liability will depend on its terms. Those terms need to reflect, among other things, his age and the general lack of pricing power for players at his position. But that’s not a reason not to meet with him.
I guess they are trying to make him a better trade chip?
I haven’t understood anything Chicago have done since they got rid of Butler…