“Bulls Set for Major Overhaul: Trade Talks Surround Vucevic and LaVine Amid Rebuild Plans”
The Chicago Bulls are aiming for a fresh start, which has become apparent after they moved on from two of their veteran players, DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso. Given that the Bulls have only made the playoffs once in the last seven seasons, it’s understandable why they feel the need to make changes.
Their lack of competitiveness goes back further. The Bulls last reached the conference finals during Derrick Rose’s MVP season and haven’t been to the NBA Finals since Michael Jordan’s sixth championship. For a successful rebuild, they may need to offload two more key players.
Much has been discussed about Zach LaVine, whose trade value is reportedly rising after a strong preseason. Another player under consideration is Nikola Vucevic. At 33, and with his performance seemingly declining, Vucevic no longer aligns with the Bulls’ long-term plans.
Michael Pina from The Ringer suggested a trade where the Bulls would receive Jarrett Allen from the Cleveland Cavaliers, in exchange for Vucevic, two unprotected first-round picks, and two pick swaps. Pina reasoned that the Bulls could benefit from Allen’s defense and experience, while Vucevic might rebound from his down season and be an effective complement to Mobley in Cleveland. Allen, 26, fits the Bulls’ timeline better and, although he doesn’t offer three-point shooting, he is a dependable double-double player, much like Vucevic. However, Allen, who signed a three-year, $90.7 million extension, cannot be traded until January 27.