Breaking: The Chicago Bulls are still attempting to deal two former All-Star players for
It seems more probable than not that Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic will start the 2024–25 season as Bulls, according to a pair of reports from Marc Stein a few weeks ago.
However, it doesn’t seem to be for want of effort on the part of the front desk. Head of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas reportedly continues to actively pursue agreements involving the former All-Stars, but it’s clear that the organization hasn’t found anything adequate up to this time, according to Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times.
Vucevic will make $41 million through 2026, while LaVine is owed around $138 million over the following three seasons (including a $49 million player option for 2026–2027). One reason Vucevic is seen to be more likely to be traded than LaVine is because of the salary difference; nevertheless, Stein stated that a deal for the 33-year-old big man might not come together until after the season starts.
The majority of Cowley’s piece focuses on the Bulls’ rotation, which, should the roster stay intact, will be challenging for head coach Billy Donovan to oversee. According to Cowley, the backcourt in particular may present issues. Three guards who prioritize offense, Josh Giddey, LaVine, and Coby White, are expected to start, with Patrick Williams and Vucevic completing the starting five.
Cowley points out that guards off the bench include Ayo Dosunmu, Dalen Terry, Jevon Carter, and maybe even Lonzo Ball, further highlighting the rotational conundrum Donovan would have this season.
