Here’s one player the Chicago Bulls should consider trading in the 2025 NBA offseason!
The Bulls’ Offseason Reality Check
For the Chicago Bulls, the 2025 offseason isn’t about minor tweaks—it’s about confronting hard truths. After several years of trying to blend veteran experience with youthful potential, the team is stuck in mediocrity. Another subpar season capped off by a predictable Play-In Tournament exit has made it clear: this roster, as currently constructed, isn’t going anywhere. To truly reset, the Bulls need to start by moving on from veteran center Nikola Vucevic.
More of the Same in 2024–25
The Bulls finished the season at 39-43—enough for a Play-In spot, but far from contention. Their year ended with a flat 109-90 loss to the Miami Heat. Despite flashes of promise, Chicago struggled with consistency, offensive flow, and late-game execution. After trading DeMar DeRozan the year before, the front office gambled on continuity around Zach LaVine, Coby White, and Vucevic.
The result? More stagnation. With LaVine also now gone, it’s clear a deeper shakeup is overdue.
Why Nikola Vucevic Should Be the First to Go
Vucevic still posts solid stats—17.4 points and 10.7 rebounds per game—but they don’t translate to winning basketball. His play style slows the game down, crowds the paint, and does little to bolster a weak defense. At 34, his mobility and rim protection are limited, and his offensive contributions often come at the expense of ball movement and spacing. Keeping him around signals an outdated vision; letting him go allows Chicago to pivot to a younger, more dynamic identity.
A Trade That Makes Sense
A logical trade partner? The Atlanta Hawks. A potential deal could send Vucevic and two future second-round picks to Atlanta in exchange for Onyeka Okongwu, Georges Niang, and Mouhamed Gueye. This would give the Bulls younger, more versatile pieces while freeing them from a player who no longer fits their future.
Letting go of Vucevic won’t be easy, but it’s necessary if the Bulls want to break free from mediocrity and build something meaningful.
This trade proposal serves multiple key purposes for the Chicago Bulls. It brings in Onyeka Okongwu, a 23-year-old with significant two-way potential. Though his breakout has been delayed in Atlanta due to Clint Capela, Okongwu is a high-energy, versatile big man who could provide the Bulls with much-needed defense. His pick-and-roll abilities would also shine with a larger role in Chicago.
Georges Niang offers a stretch-forward option to improve the team’s spacing and depth, while Mouhamed Gueye adds potential for future development. While the trade might not make headlines with big names, it offers a strong fit for the Bulls, aligning with their need for a younger, more versatile roster.
For Atlanta, this deal boosts their offensive capabilities at center with Vucevic, a skilled pick-and-pop player who complements Trae Young’s style. Vucevic’s veteran presence also provides stability for a team on the verge of a breakthrough. The addition of two second-round picks makes the trade beneficial for the Hawks in the short term.
Ultimately, Chicago needs to prioritize a new identity over legacy. Since their post-Jimmy Butler rebuild faltered, they’ve struggled to balance the present and future. Trading Vucevic won’t fix everything instantly, but it would be a step toward building a team focused on flexibility and youthful promise.
By moving Vucevic, the Bulls would commit to a future that embraces the league’s evolving trends. It’s not about disrespecting Vucevic, who has been a professional, but about shifting the team’s direction. To truly compete in the Eastern Conference, Chicago must let go of what’s holding them back, even if those pieces once seemed to be the solution.
Leave a Reply