The Chicago Bulls might finally be ready to pick a lane. According to Ahn Fire Digital, the Bulls are expected to explore trades for veterans Nikola VuÄeviÄ and Patrick Williams during the 2025â26 NBA season. After years of roster limbo, this move signals a full embrace of Chicagoâs youth-driven rebuild led by Matas Buzelis, Josh Giddey, and Coby Whiteâa trio that now defines the franchiseâs new direction.
VuÄeviÄâs Trade Market Heating Up Again
VuÄeviÄ, 33, is coming off one of the most efficient shooting seasons of his career. He averaged 18.5 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 73 games last season while shooting 53.0% from the field and 40.2% from three. That blend of production and floor spacing has kept him on the radar of several contenders.
At last seasonâs trade deadline, the Golden State Warriors made a push to acquire him before pivoting to trade for former Bull Jimmy Butler. Now, renewed interest could come from the Indiana Pacers, Brooklyn Nets, and Miami Heat, each linked to Vucevic in recent reports.
The Pacers could use a veteran big after losing Myles Turner to Milwaukee, with one proposed trade involving Obi Toppin and Jarace Walker as return pieces. Brooklyn, on the other hand, could look to flip Nic Claxton in a one-for-one swap, while Miami remains in the mix as a team looking to reinforce its frontcourt alongside Bam Adebayo and Keâlel Ware.
Still, the market remains cautious. As Sports Illustratedâs Chris Mannix noted, Vucevicâs $21 million expiring contract is âvery tradeable,â but league executives want to see if his efficiency holds up early in the season. If it doesnât, insiders suggest a midseason buyout could be more likely than a major trade package.
Patrick Williamsâ Future Also in Question
While VuÄeviÄ represents a veteran piece on the move, Patrick Williams may be a casualty of the Bullsâ draft success. Chicago re-signed him to a five-year, $90 million deal in 2024, but with back-to-back first-round forwards Matas Buzelis and Noa Essengue now in the rotation, his fit has grown murkier.
Williams averaged 9.0 points and 3.8 rebounds last season while shooting 39.7% from the field and 35.3% from deepâsolid but unspectacular for a player once touted as a franchise cornerstone. His durability has also been a lingering issue, appearing in 65 games or more only twice in his five-year career.
The Bulls see value in Williamsâ contract, which remains favorable on the trade market given his age (23) and two-way potential. Multiple front offices have reportedly expressed interest in him as a versatile wing on a manageable long-term deal.
A Youth Movement at Last
After years of half-measures, the Bulls finally appear ready to rebuild around their young core. Buzelis emerged as a breakout piece after the All-Star break last season, averaging 10.4 points and 4.9 rebounds as a starter while showing flashes of a modern stretch forward. With Giddey and White commanding the backcourt, the teamâs foundation is younger, faster, and more future-focused than itâs been in years.
If Chicago truly wants to âsettle on a direction,â as Mannix wrote, it must commit fully. That means turning VuÄeviÄ and Williams into meaningful draft capital or rotation-ready youth before their value fades. The window to act is narrowâbut itâs finally clear the Bulls know which way theyâre facing.
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