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The Golden State Warriors “made another run” at Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vučević but were unable to finalize a trade ahead of Thursday’s deadline, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.
According to Stein, “talks fizzled as the teams could not agree on a trade construction.”
Vučević said Wednesday he would be “happy” to stay with the Bulls, per Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune.
Julia Poe @byjuliapoe
Nikola Vučević said tonight didn’t feel like his last game in a Bulls jersey. Doesn’t expect much to happen before tomorrow’s deadline.
“If I stay here I’ll be happy.” pic.twitter.com/J3MIc4X518
K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Sports Network meanwhile reported that the Bulls’ deadline talks regarding Vučević had left “plenty of groundwork for an offseason move.”
The 34-year-old Vučević, a 14-year NBA veteran, played his first nine-plus seasons with the Orlando Magic before they traded him to the Bulls in March 2021.
The two-time All-Star has averaged a double-double (17.2 PPG, 10.5 RPG) for his career.
This season, Vučević has posted 19.5 points on 54.6 percent shooting (39.4 percent from three) and 10.4 rebounds per game. His 60.9 percent effective field goal percentage ranks 19th in the NBA, per Basketball-Reference.
This is arguably the best season of Vučević’s career, so it’s no surprise that the Warriors coveted him before the trade deadline. He also has a palatable contract, with only one season of financial commitment at $21,481,481 remaining after this year.
Vučević was part of a rebuild in Chicago that saw the team add DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine and Lonzo Ball for an impressive core four. That team once sat first in the Eastern Conference midway through the 2021-22 season.
Unfortunately, a serious knee injury to Ball, which sidelined him for three years, was a catalyst in the team’s struggles down the stretch of that campaign. The Bulls never really recovered since, having been mired in mediocrity and fighting just to make the playoffs.
The Bulls traded LaVine to the Sacramento Kings earlier this week, signaling the end of an era in Chicago. It looks like the franchise will still build around Ball, though, after reportedly signing him to a two-year contract extension on Wednesday.
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