The Los Angeles Lakers have tried to address their frontcourt issues this summer.

They signed Deandre Ayton following his buyout with the Portland Trail Blazers and then re-signed Jaxson Hayes.

However, they apparently are still looking for more help.

One player they have their eyes on is Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic.

According to Anthony Irwin of ClutchPoints, the Lakers were closely monitoring the situation with Vucevic and the Bulls (h/t Bleacher Report).

Vucevic is a two-time All-Star who plays for a team that has done major retooling over the past year.

The most favorable way for the Lakers to add Vucevic is via a buyout. Vucevic is owed almost $21.5 million for the 2025-26 season.

A buyout would prevent the Lakers from having to trade any valued players on expensive deals to acquire Vucevic.

Bulls Won’t Buy Out Nikola Vucevic Anytime Soon

Despite the Lakers’ reported interest in Vucevic, he isn’t going anywhere. At least, a buyout is not on the table for the time being. NBA Insider Marc Stein reported via his Substack that the Bulls will not buy out Vucevic between now and when training camp starts.

“As we explained in Monday’s around-the-league notes, Chicago’s Nikola Vucevic should be no means be considered a buyout candidate this summer,” Stein wrote. “He will open the season in Chicago unless a trade materializes between now and the start of training camp in late September.”

No Vucevic Buyout is Unfortunate News for Lakers

This report rules out the possibility of the Lakers adding Vucevic the easy way: signing him outright after a buyout. However, Stein’s wording suggests that a trade isn’t off the table for Vucevic.

The Lakers could offer multiple players on expiring deals to match contracts with Chicago in a deal for Vucevic. That includes Rui Hachimura ($18.2 million), Gabe Vincent ($11.5 million), and Maxi Kleber ($11 million).

They could also dangle Jarred Vanderbilt (11.5 million this season), but he has three years left on his current contract, which may not appeal to Chicago. Because the Lakers are below the NBA’s second tax apron, they can aggregate contracts.

Vucevic may also get bought out during the regular season, but the Lakers can’t sign him even if that happens, as they are currently hard-capped at the league’s first tax apron.

Teams above the NBA’s first tax apron cannot sign players who make more than the non-taxpayers’ midlevel exception. This coming season, that would be $14.1 million. The only way they could is if they make a trade(s) to get under said apron.

Teams above one or both of the NBA’s tax aprons can sign any player bought out, no matter what they make during the offseason, but not during the regular season. For Vucevic to become a Laker this season, the most plausible way for that to happen is via trade.