Zach LaVine isn’t the only player trapped on the Bulls roster moving forward

Zach LaVine isn’t the only player trapped on the Bulls roster moving forward.

Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine is perpetually involved in trade rumors, and the prevailing theory continues to be that he’ll go nowhere.

 

Despite having his best season in at least two years – arguably three when he was named an Eastern Conference All-Star in 2021-22—LaVine’s contract, history of knee injuries and new restrictions placed on teams with the league’s second apron are combining to make dealing him a near impossible task.

He’s not the only Bulls star having a standout season, however, and he’s certainly not the only one proving difficult to deal.

 

There ‘isn’t much interest’ in Nikola Vucevic around the NBA

Vucevic is averaging 21.0 points this season, the most since he arrived in Chicago in 2020-21 when he was named an All-Star for the second time.

 

He’s also averaging 9.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists, but it’s his off-the-charts shooting efficiency that’s making this a career season for the 14-year veteran.

 

The 34-year-old is shooting 58.7 percent from the field and knocking down 47.4 percent of his 4.6 threes per game, both of which would blow past his previous career highs if they hold up.

up.

 

But even with those numbers and his much more palatable contract compared to LaVine’s, the Bulls are still having trouble finding a suitor for Vucevic, according to Tim Bontemps of ESPN.

 

Bontemps writes, “that doesn’t change the fact that Vucevic struggles defensively and is owed another $20 million next year. Perhaps most importantly, there just isn’t much of a market for centers, one of the deepest positions in the league.”

 

Bulls’ asking price for Vucevic is unbelievable

Earlier this season, it was reported that Chicago could expect to land a pair of second-round picks if it could find a taker for Vucevic. Apparently, the Bulls aren’t satisfied with that return.

Unsurprisingly, the front office is holding onto the veteran in the hopes of landing more … which it almost certainly won’t.

 

Chicago wants at least a first-round pick for Vucevic, according to Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line.

 

They mention the Bulls’ failure to land any draft assets in the Alex Caruso-Josh Giddey swap during the offseason as one of the reasons Chicago wants a more valued pick now.

 

Perhaps they should have thought of that when they made the deal because it seemed confusing to the rest of us.