As the Josh Giddey contract conundrum looms over Chicago Bulls’ fans and the NBA world as a whole, a lesser escapade has seemingly been swept under the rug. The Bulls’ intention to trade 34-year-old center Nikola Vučević has quieted in recent weeks.

Not long ago, NBA Insider Jake Fischer reported that one of Vučević’s primary suitors, the Golden State Warriors, had relinquished their interest in trading for the sweet-shooting big man. Fischer wrote, “The Warriors, though, appear to have moved away from past trade interest they previously registered in veteran Bulls center Nikola Vucevic…”

Fischer referenced the Warriors’ pre-trade deadline interest in Vooch, which originally picked up steam last December. Golden State ultimately landed a bigger fish, acquiring Jimmy Butler from the Miami Heat. However, the Warriors still reportedly prioritized Vučević leading up to the deadline. Nonetheless, a trade never materialized due to the Bulls’ insistence on acquiring a first-round pick.

A contract buyout is reportedly Vucevic’s lone exit avenue

Now, as teams finalize their rosters following the flurry that is NBA free agency, Vučević’s trade market is reportedly listless. On an episode of NBA Insider Notebook on Bleacher Report, Fischer answered a listener’s question regarding Vučević trade talks.

Fischer began his remark by proclaiming, “No [referencing a potential trade this offseason], we’ve been talking about how there hasn’t been much of a market for Nikola Vučević all along, dating back to last trade deadline.” In the second part of Fischer’s response, he insinuated a far more demoralizing outcome for Bulls fans. Fisher said, “I think at this juncture, we’re probably more likely to see a Nikola Vučević buyout midseason than we are to see a trade…”

While it doesn’t come as a shock that rival teams have soured on the idea of trading for a soon-to-be 35-year-old big man who’s a major defensive liability, it is disheartening to hear Fischer relay the message that a buyout is more likely, considering the Bulls could have traded Vučević for multiple second-round picks.

At this point, a buyout merely opens up a roster spot—nothing else. With only one year remaining on the three-year, $60 pact he signed in 2023, there’s no reason to buyout Vooch unless the Bulls are keen on granting him a favor by allowing the 34-year-old to sign with a playoff-bound team.

A buyout will surely be something Chicago considers. Vučević has been a consummate professional since arriving in the Windy City, yet he’s appeared in merely 16 playoff games across 14 seasons. All in all, with a forthcoming trade seemingly out of the window, expect the 6-foot-10 center to at least begin next season with the Bulls, with his tenure coming to an end near the trade deadline or the following offseason.