Mock Trade: Bulls Make Deal with Thunder
While the Oklahoma City Thunder have been great to start the 2023-24 season, there’s still a glaring weakness on this team. Rebounding has been something that the team has mostly been able to overcome, but has also been a primary factor in a couple of their losses.
As such, adding another big to play behind or alongside Chet Holmgren could really take this team to the next level. If that center could also space the floor and play to Oklahoma City’s style, it would be even more perfect.
Lucky for the Thunder, there’s a big in the Eastern Conference that fits that mold who plays for a team that could be changing paths soon. All signs point to the Chicago Bulls potentially selling off assets in the next few months as a rebuild could be on the horizon. While Zach LaVine, Alex Caruso and DeMar DeRozan are the primary players teams will call about, Nikola Vucevic also is an attractive piece.
Now 33 years old, Vucevic is making roughly $18.5 million this season, $20 million next season and right above $21 million the next. He’s averaging a double-double with 17.6 points and 10.8 rebounds per contest. While his numbers are down this season, he’s also a very capable 3-point shooter and underrated passer (2.9 assists per game).
While it’s no secret that Oklahoma City is patient, the ability to buy low on Vucevic is worth exploring. It’s unclear whether the Bulls would truly sell low on him, but as the season goes on additional pressure will be added if the team continues losing.
For the Thunder, the biggest obstacle will be making the money work. The assets to actually facilitate this type of deal will be easy, it’s ensuring the contracts both ways match.
Perhaps a package primarily comprised of Aleksej Pokusevski and Tre Mann along with several second-round picks or a heavily protected first could get it done. Those are two young players that are former first-round selections that could really thrive in a new opportunity. If Chicago is really going to rebuild, those would be two complimentary pieces alongside whoever else the Bulls would get from moving their other stars.
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