When the Chicago Bulls made a splash at the 2021 NBA trade deadline, acquiring big man Nikola Vucevic, they were hoping to usher in a new era of Bulls basketball. And while they accomplished that goal, the era wasn’t nearly as prosperous as they may have hoped. They made the playoffs in 2022, but this past season, they were eliminated in the Play-In Tournament.
Now, as the offseason gets underway, Vucevic will be an unrestricted free agent. Chicago could potentially bring him back, but it could be beneficial for the Vucevic experiment to end. Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic believes it’s for the best “for both sides.”
If the Bulls do decide to part ways with Vucevic, they would need to find a replacement center. With their cap space situation in mind (spoiler alert, the Bulls can’t sign anything close to a max contract), here are some potential centers Chicago could target in free agency this summer to replace Vucevic if the two sides part ways.
Few of these options would be able to replace the star power or production of Vucevic, but they could help shore up Chicago’s center depth should he depart this offseason.
Nikola Vucevic replacements for Chicago Bulls in free agency: Naz Reid
Naz Reid just wrapped up a productive season with the Minnesota Timberwolves. But with Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns leading the way, the 23-year-old big man could look for new opportunities. He’s shown some serious potential and could be a great project for Chicago.
Nikola Vucevic replacements for Chicago Bulls in free agency: Thomas Bryant
Thomas Bryant had a very weird season. He looked pretty good during his time with the Los Angeles Lakers, but he wasn’t a part of the rotation when he was traded to the Denver Nuggets. That said, the 25-year-old could be a solid fit with Chicago with his hustle play and decent three-point shooting (on low volume).
Nikola Vucevic replacements for Chicago Bulls in free agency: Drew Eubanks
Drew Eubanks isn’t the flashiest name out there, but he just wrapped up an extremely productive season with the Portland Trail Blazers. The 26-year-old was so good that Portland will likely look to bring him back on board, but if Chicago likes what they see, they could look to steal him away.
Nikola Vucevic replacements for Chicago Bulls in free agency: Paul Reed
Paul Reed will be a restricted free agent this summer, and in all honesty, he’s likely not a starting-caliber center. However, his hard-nosed play and great rebounding could make him an intriguing player for the Bulls to take a chance on. However, they would have to offer him a contract the Philadelphia 76ers wouldn’t want to match.
Nikola Vucevic replacements for Chicago Bulls in free agency: Christian Wood
This is an interesting option, but Christian Wood would have to take the MLE for it to work. While that’s not out of the realm of possibilities, Wood will likely have better offers on the table. If the Bulls could convince him to come to town, though, he could help elevate their offense.
Nikola Vucevic replacements for Chicago Bulls in free agency: Jaxson Hayes
Jaxson Hayes will be a restricted free agent this summer, so the Bulls would have to pry him away from the New Orleans Pelicans. However, considering their roster, they may hesitate to match a good enough offer. Hayes’ athleticism makes him an intriguing prospect for Chicago to take a look at, especially considering he’s still only 23 years old.
Nikola Vucevic replacements for Chicago Bulls in free agency: Dwight Powell
Dwight Powell isn’t a star by any means, nor does he have the potential to be one. However, the Bulls would be hard-pressed to find a more reliable center than Powell, who has been a consistent face in the Dallas Mavericks’ lineup for years.
Nikola Vucevic replacements for Chicago Bulls in free agency: Omer Yurtseven
Omer Yurtseven is not a starting-caliber big man. But after a season full of injuries, the 24-year-old big man could use a new environment, especially with guys like Bam Adebayo, Orlando Robinson, and others potentially taking the center minutes on the Miami Heat. Yurtseven has shown flashes of real potential during his short career, and he could be a fun center prospect for Chicago to take a chance on.
If Vucevic leaves the Bulls this summer, any of these options could help soak up some of the center minutes Chicago would be losing.
