Chicago Bulls’ Nikola Vučević Has No Trade Market

Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vučević doesn’t have a trade market, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report.

Vučević will make $21.4 million next season in the final year of his contract.

“We’ve been talking about how there hasn’t been much of a market for Nikola Vučević all along, dating back to last trade deadline in February,” Fischer said. “I think at this juncture, we’re probably more likely to see a Nikola Vučević buyout midseason than we are to see a trade, depending on how the market unfolds, depending on how injuries develop. There really hasn’t been much of a Nikola Vučević trade market in a while.”

Vučević appeared in 73 games for the Bulls last season. He averaged 18.5 points, 10.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists while shooting 53.0% from the field, 40.2% from beyond the arc and 80.5% from the free-throw line. 

The Bulls missed the playoffs again last season. They have only made the postseason once since trading Jimmy Butler to the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2016. 

During his exit interview with Bulls reporters in April, Vučević sounded like a player who wants to play for a contender next season.

“There are some good, young pieces that can be built around,” Vučević said. “There are a lot of questions when you’re a team not fighting for the top. I have trust in them and believe they want to do what’s best and build a good team that wants to win. So we’ll see.

“Obviously, I’m at the stage in my career where I’m trying to win now, play in the playoffs and hopefully have deep playoff runs. It’s a young team and it does take time. It all depends on what their timeline is and how they see this team.”

Vučević has played for the Orlando Magic and Bulls. He’s a two-time All-Star with career averages of 17.2 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists.