Two seasons ago, the Chicago Bulls made a huge trade with the Orlando Magic, acquiring big man Nikola Vucevic. Since then, the Bulls have made the playoffs in one of two seasons but were eliminated in the first round. Then, this past season, they were bounced in the Play-In Tournament.
Now, Vucevic will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, and the Bulls have some tough decisions to make. Considering Arturas Karnisovas’ stance on tanking, it seems likely Chicago will bring Vucevic back, but they need to be cautious, as the center is already 32 years old. KC Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago thinks a short-term contract would be ideal.
Vucevic’s next deal will take him into his mid-30s, and while he’s still a productive player, overpaying him could seriously restrict Chicago in the future. Johnson thinks the Bulls should aim to bring him back on a short-term deal.
“I think a good solution might be to do a short-term deal at slightly above his 2022-23 salary,” Johnson said. “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.”
Johnson also believes Vucevic may ask for a raise this summer.
“This may be better answered by posing my own question: Do you think a player who just played all 82 games and finished third in the NBA in double-doubles is going to ask for a raise? Because I do,” Johnson wrote.
Vucevic is still a solid player, but Chicago needs to be careful with how they approach his contract situation.
