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Believe it or not, there was a time during the 2024-25 season where the vibes were high with the Chicago Bulls. Josh Giddey looked like a sure-fire All-Star, the team was 5-0, and the potential was through the roof.

As it stands now, Chicago has dropped six in a row, and sits at 9-13. Defense has been anything but the strong suit for this team. Noa Essengue, their lottery-pick, is already out for the season.

The team has a clear lack of scoring wings, among some other issues plaguing them. A hypothetical deal with a central division foe  could help them amend at least that issue, for now.

That’s why this proposed trade with the Milwaukee Bucks could serve to help them. Kyle Kuzma would head to Chicago with a future first-round pick, in exchange for Nikola Vucevic.

There are reasons for both teams not to do this trade, but the benefits on both sides could also be grand if they agree.

Kyle Kuzma for Nikola Vucevic Swap

The latest hypothetical deal keeps both players involved right in the Midwest. It has been a brutal go of things for the Milwaukee Bucks of late. Giannis Antetokounmpo is out for at least the next few weeks, while also being on the trading block.

The team is getting virtually no production from Jericho Sims. Myles Turner is posting career-lows across the board. They need a center.

At the cost of a wing in Kyle Kuzma that still has the potential for big nights, the deal is absolutely worth it. It would allow for 48 minutes of true center play. They could also opt to move Bobby Portis back to Chicago instead of using Kuz.  Salaries would match, but the teams would just have to wait until January 15 for trade eligibility.

Why not add Nikola Vucevic to the mix? The 35-year-old still has plenty in the tank as an offensive weapon, and could help the team space the floor.

After a win over the Washington Wizards, Vucevic opted to talk about the team’s struggles, rather than bask in it. He can be seen in the video below not celebrating with Jalen Smith.

He still struggles on the defensive end of the floor, but the big man can deliver in the clutch.Putting up good numbers for the better part of a decade, the 35-year-old has plenty to add.

Next Steps for Bucks and Bulls

The Milwaukee Bucks currently sit at 10-15. The team doesn’t look like a winning club at the moment, And with Giannis not walking through that door right now, they will have a lot of questions to answer.

If the losing does continue at this rate, the future will become very murky for Milwaukee. Acquiring another playmaker/scorer should be the top thing for them. Moving Kuzma for an upgrade by using a 2030 1st-round pick could well be worth it.

Opting to try and stay in contention is the biggest motivation for acquiring Nikola Vucevic, as he is 35. A short-term extension could be an order after the season, should they opt to want to move on and get value back.

As for the Chicago Bulls, they need something new here. A new burst of energy. They are 4-13 in their past 17 games since the 5-0 start. Kyle Kuzma provides just the energy they are looking for.

Time will tell which direction Chicago opts to take.

Zach Weiss Zach Weiss is a sports reporter covering the NBA for Heavy. He also hosts a podcast about the Cleveland Cavaliers, “Across the Cavs,” and serves as a sports broadcaster for various institutions in the Greater NYC Area. He wrote for Knup Sports for six years. More about Zach Weiss