TORONTO – Six-foot-10, 260 pounds, with guard-like shooting range, all wrapped in one large red bow.
Yep, Nikola Vucevic could make one heck of a consolation prize.
That’s the reality for the Bulls big man these days, waiting for some resolution for All-Star-caliber names like Jimmy Butler and De’Aaron Fox, and then finding out his own fate as the Feb. 6 trade deadline approaches rapidly.
And while Vucevic is usually very good about compartmentalizing trade rumors and talk this time of year, even he seemed curious to find out what’s going to happen come Thursday at 2 p.m.
“I mean I think I’ve kind of learned to shut it off and not worry about it too much over the years because I’ve been in so many rumors, trade talks, things like that,” Vucevic said Friday. “You just learn to deal with it. When I was younger I thought about it more, it affected me more, but now you kind of, I mean obviously as it gets closer there’s a kind of waiting to see what happens, does it happen or not, but I don’t sit at home and think, ‘Oh, what if it happens?’ The waiting game is never the most fun thing, but it’s part of it.”
It definitely didn’t seem to mess with his game against the Raptors, and that was apparent right from the start in the eventual 122-106 Bulls win.
Vucevic set the tone in that opening quarter, shooting 5-of-7 from the field for 12 points, grabbing six rebounds and handing out two assists, as he went on to finish with 21 points and 12 rebounds.
“I think we did a better job trying to find him than we did in previous games,” coach Billy Donovan said. “I thought he had everything kind of going. With Zach (LaVine) being out (birth of his child) we need him to do more of that.”
So why the consolation prize talk with Vucevic?
A source reiterated to the Sun-Times that executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas has remained busy talking to the likes of Golden State and Phoenix, monitoring where they are in the Butler trade talks with Miami. There’s growing momentum that if Butler goes to one or the other, that could open up talks with the Bulls (21-28) about LaVine, or at a lesser cap hit, Vucevic.
The Sun-Times reported that the Bulls would still be interested in getting involved as a third or fourth team in a Butler trade if more partners are needed, but that remains more of a long shot.
The Warriors do have the pieces to go after LaVine or Vucevic, and both would be immediate fits for different reasons.
As far as the Suns, it would be tougher to move LaVine because of Bradley Beal’s no-trade clause, but with veteran center Jusuf Nurkic wanting out, Vucevic could be a solid back-up plan.
There has always seemed to be LaVine and Laker talk going back to last season, but the Sun-Times reported that possibility as all but dead back in December. Could Vucevic be an option there, however? Anthony Davis wants to move away from the five and they could use Vucevic’ shooting, but again what player or players would be the return and what kind of draft pick could they get from Los Angeles?
What Vucevic does know is that if he is moved it will be to a team that is likely playoff bound and believes it can be a contender.
“Yeah, if it happens and it’s a win-now situation, of course you have to enjoy that part, appreciate that part, take on that challenge,” Vucevic said. “At this stage of my career, if I’m able to get in a situation where I can win now, play for something meaningful, that would be great and I would enjoy that. We’ll see what happens.”