Nikola Vucevic believes he and Wendell Carter Jr. benefitted in their 2021 swap: "It worked well for both of us"

The Chicago Bulls and Orlando Magic orchestrated one of the most significant trades of the 2020-21 season's trade deadline. Nikola Vucevic and Al-Farouq Aminu joined the Bulls, while Wendell Carter Jr., Otto Porter, and two future first-round picks left for Orlando.

Nearly three years have passed since this trade took place, Vooch couldn't even feel more happy about how the deal turned out to be a success.

A win-win trade for Vooch and WCJ

Looking back and with how the situations have transpired not only for him and WCJ but also between the Bulls and the Magic, Vooch believes that both of them simply won the trade.

“I think it worked out pretty well for both of us,” he said. “He’s been playing really well for them and I think he fits really well for the team they have. And for me, it’s been a good fit in Chicago. He was in a situation to find a new place to kind of reset and for me, I was just trying to go to a team that was trying to win now. So it worked out well for both of us.”

Both Magic and the Bulls gained benefits as well in the trade

This 2021 trade served as the first step for the Bulls to launch themselves into a contender as the Vooch acquisition propelled the eventual free agency landing of DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso the following season. In contrast, this transaction signaled the official entry towards rebuilding for the Magic, with WCJ playing as one of their crucial building blocks.

As Vooch continues to enjoy his star role and anchored Chicago's contending state, Wendell meanwhile developed tremendously and is now assuming a promising spot in Orlando's bright future and ongoing surging season. In the end, both big men are truly delighted with their new position and the things that they've enjoyed upon the completion of the trade.