Bulls News: Pros and Cons of Re-signing Nikola Vucevic |
Dustin Riese
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- Wednesday, June 21 2023
There are plenty of questions surrounding the Bulls and their upcoming NBA season, and one of those questions surrounds big man Nikola Vucevic. Ever since the Bulls traded for Vucevic in February 2021, the Big-man has been a constant double-double machine while also being one of the most, if not the most, durable player on the roster.
He had a down year in 2021-22 for his standards and bounced back with a massive year last year for one of his best seasons in quite some time. Sure, the PPG continues to decline from his days with the Magic, but he is no longer the No. 1 scoring option and is still a consistent player on the court. Entering free agency for the first time in a long time, Vucevic will be paid handsomely based on his production, and many feel he will be out of the Bulls' price range when you look at their financial status as a team. However, Arturas Karnisovas doesn't see it that way, and there are reports out of Chicago that the Bulls have engaged in the initial groundwork for extension talks with Vucevic which may seem like a surprise. I understand he was an essential piece to this team the last few years, but the Bulls are stuck in purgatory right now and need to figure out if they will blow it up and rebuild or try and run it back with a healthy roster. Re-signing Vucevic is a sign they don't plan to rebuild and could rub fans the wrong way. Regardless of what side you sit on, there are pros and cons to letting him walk or bringing him back. Let's start with the pros for now: Pros: 1. Double-double machine: Bringing back Vucevic not only gives the Bulls the needed size they lack, but he is the third-best scoring option on this team. He is also a double-double machine you can count on every night to produce on the floor. Having consistent scorers is crucial to having a successful team, and Vucevic is as consistent as they come. It took him a while to learn how not to be the top option, but he has settled into his new role nicely. 2. Durable player: Not only is Vucevic consistent with his numbers, but he is as durable as they come, as he has missed seven games in his two-plus seasons with the Bulls. Five of those games came when he had COVID, while the other two were minor injuries that required a day off. Having durable players on the floor makes things easier for everyone involved because you know you can count on him every night. That is something the Bulls didn't always have, and losing him could hurt when it comes to finding a player capable of playing every day. 3. Familiar with the Donovan scheme and role: Ideally, letting Vucevic walk would save the Bulls a ton of money, but it could come at a price. Whoever would replace him would need to learn the Billy Donovan system and fit the role Vucevic has played. That is a lot easier said than done. Sure, no one will say break the bank for him and overpay, but if he asks for around $20 million per season, which puts him in line with where he was last year. Offering him a three-year extension wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.
CONS: 1. Defensive liability: For all the good Vucevic brings to the table on offense, he continues to be a defensive liability. He isn't as physical as some of the other bigs in the league, and he needs to gain the overall foot speed to beat defenders to the spot. Defensive inconsistency was an issue for Chicago, and keeping Vucevic will not improve that.
2. Age: Chicago has a talented roster, but most of their talent comes from aging players. DeMar DeRozan comes to mind, as is Vucevic, who will be entering his age 33 season next year.
While the production is still great, you have to wonder how long he can play at that level before age catches up to him. The Bulls don't want to be tied down to a player who is a shell of himself when their contract ends.
3. Holding back other players: If the Bulls let Vucevic go, Andre Drummond is their only big, which may not be a bad thing. However, you bring Vooch back; you pair him with Drummond, which gives Chicago an offensive-minded center and a defensive-minded center playing different roles.
The problem with that is you hold other players back who may need an opportunity.
Marko Simonovic is the one that comes to mind as he is entering his fourth season in the Bulls organization. Stuck in the G-League since day one, Simonovic has put up great numbers for Windy City and has nothing else to prove.
His biggest issue has been a lack of playing time in the NBA, and bringing back Vooch will prevent him from getting minutes. At some point, the Bulls need to figure out what they have in Simonovic, and that will not come with Vucevic on this roster.
