The Chicago Bulls sit 10th in the Eastern Conference, positioning themselves as potential sellers ahead of the February 5 NBA trade deadline, but one big question looms: what will the team do with veteran center Nikola Vucevic?

Vucevic, 35, is on an expiring $21.4 million contract and continues to be a significant contributor for the Bulls, prompting the front office to weigh the benefits of trading him versus retaining his floor-stretching presence and leadership.

According to ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel, Chicago isn’t particularly eager to move Vucevic despite his age and the potential return they could receive, citing both his value to head coach Billy Donovan and the organization as a whole.

“Chicago has some options before the trade deadline because of all the expiring money they possess,” Siegel wrote. “Nikola Vucevic, who is on an expiring $21.4 million contract, is a player that Billy Donovan and the organization value. It wouldn’t be surprising if they held onto Vuc.”

The 6-foot-9, 260-pound center has long been one of the league’s most reliable floor-stretching big men, maintaining a career 35.1 percent shooting mark from three-point range, with seasons like 2020–21 and 2024–25 seeing him convert over 40 percent from beyond the arc.

This season, Vucevic is averaging 16.5 points and 9.3 rebounds in 30.5 minutes per game, marks that are technically career lows since 2017–18, yet he remains the Bulls’ third-leading scorer behind Josh Giddey and Coby White and their primary rebounder.

Vucevic’s combination of size, shooting, and ability to space the floor makes him a versatile offensive weapon. At his best, he can pull defenders out of the paint, opening lanes for guards and wings to attack, a skill especially valuable in modern NBA schemes.

Since joining Chicago in the 2020–21 season, Vucevic has been asked to shoulder less offensive responsibility than he did with the Orlando Magic, where he averaged 25 points per game in his final half-season before the trade.

In a Bulls uniform, Vucevic has consistently scored in double figures, but has not averaged more than 18.5 points per game in a full season, instead taking a supporting role alongside stars such as Giddey, White, Zach LaVine, and DeMar DeRozan.

Despite the logical appeal of trading Vucevic before the deadline, given his age and expiring contract, the Bulls have historically been hesitant to extract maximum value from such players, often holding on rather than leveraging their assets for future gain.

Vucevic’s situation is compounded by the fact that he will turn 36 in October and become an unrestricted free agent in the upcoming offseason, meaning any team acquiring him would face similar short-term considerations about contract length and production.

The center previously signed a three-year, $60 million extension with Chicago in 2023, following the expiration of a four-year, $100 million deal he inked with Orlando. This underscores how the Bulls have valued his veteran presence and floor-spacing skills over multiple seasons.

From a strategic standpoint, holding Vucevic provides flexibility. Should Chicago choose to retain him, they could negotiate a smaller, team-friendly extension in free agency, allowing the Bulls to maintain frontcourt stability while freeing salary for other roster moves.

On the other hand, trading Vucevic could generate future draft capital or younger assets, allowing the Bulls to accelerate a potential rebuild or supplement their core of Giddey, White, and rising contributors like Matas Buzelis, while creating financial flexibility for free agency.

The dilemma highlights a broader theme in Chicago’s recent roster management: balancing the need for immediate competitiveness with the long-term strategy of building around younger players, particularly in a conference where playoff positioning remains highly competitive.

While Vucevic’s statistical output has dipped, his floor-stretching, rebounding, and veteran leadership continue to offer tangible value, especially for a team still navigating roster injuries, inconsistent guard play, and offensive inconsistency across the squad.

Ultimately, the Bulls’ decision regarding Nikola Vucevic will signal the organization’s approach to aging veterans with expiring contracts. Whether they hold, trade, or extend him, the choice will shape both the 2025–26 season and Chicago’s strategic direction for years to come.