Nikola Vucevic just finished the final year of a 4-year, $100 million deal he signed with the Orlando Magic back in 2019. This means that come July 1st, the versatile big man will be an unrestricted free agent who will have his pick of teams to sign with.
The soon-to-be 33-year-old has publicly said that the Chicago Bulls will have first dibs on re-signing him. However, he also added he’d explore what the market is for a veteran big man with a sweet shooting stroke and a solid rebounding rate. So, the question becomes: could Vucevic really leave the Bulls?
Nothing is certain
Basketball may be a game, but the NBA is a business. That said, nothing is ever certain until a signature is added to a new contract. At 32 years old, this may be Vooch’s last chance at a big payday, and he’s sure to pounce on this, especially after a year where he averaged 17.6 points, 11 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game. He was also one of the league leaders in double-doubles, tallying 51 for the season.
Great fit
After playing two and a half seasons with the Bulls, Vooch admitted to finally getting into a groove playing in Billy Donovan’s system this season. Getting reps in with DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine gave Vooch the opportunity to understand where his spots are, allowing LaVine and DeRozan to excel. He also added that he’s enjoyed his time in the Windy City.
“I like my time here and built good relationships with my teammates, coaches, front office, people in the organization and around the city. So a lot of positives here. But we’ll see what their plan is and what they decide to do,” said Vucevic.
Yes, Vucevic could leave, but it may be in his best interest to stay with the Bulls. In Chicago, he’s the starting center of a team that could return to the Playoffs if they make the right moves this offseason. Leaving would mean Vucevic has to start all over again. He may be better off staying put and helping the Bulls build something special in 2023-24.
Source: yardbarker.com
