This season appears to be the year of the big man, with as many as five to eight centers already dangled in trade talks. Among the most talked about is Nikola Vucevic, the 34-year-old two-time All-Star for Chicago, who is on pace for one of the best seasons of his 14-year career. He\u2019s signed to one of the more team-friendly contracts for a player of his caliber, owed $20 million this year and next season. Although the age may scare potential suitors away, his three-point shooting abilities and offensive firepower will land him with a contending roster. The buzz for his departure started over the summer when the Bulls shipped away fellow veterans Alex Caruso and DeMar DeRozan in favor of gaining youth and future assets. While no legitimate traction was made during the offseason, the phone lines have picked up immensely over the past few weeks. Who has been calling, and how likely will Vucevic be in new threads in 2025?<\/p>\n
Vucevic\u2019s scorching hot start from three-point land, shooting 48.0% on nearly five attempts per night, is actively earning increased trade merit. The versatility allows a potential trade partner to deploy him as the center in a stretch-five or big-man tandem role with a more true center, similar to Karl Anthony-Towns and Rudy Gobert, who played alongside one another for several years in Minnesota. The Atlanta Hawks recently reported that they\u2019re shopping Clint Capela, which puts Vucevic\u2019s value in perspective. Capela cannot shoot the three-ball, has no offensive arsenal that Chicago\u2019s big man possesses, and is making more money in a contract that releases him to unrestricted free agency this summer. A potential suitor for Vucevic would own his contract through the 2025-26 campaign.<\/p>\n