Zach LaVine was traded to the Sacramento Kings earlier this week, ending his eight-year tenure with the Chicago Bulls. He was the longest-tenured active player in Chicago and led the team in scoring, minutes, and games over the past decade. After DeMar DeRozan signed elsewhere over the summer and LaVine joined him in Sacramento a few days ago, Nikola Vucevic was the lone remaining 'big three' member. Although each is at least a two-time All-Star, they only mustered one playoff win during their time with the Bulls. Now that his running mates are gone, and he could be the next to go, Vucevic opened up about his former teammate and original All-Star duo partner LaVine. Here's what he had to say.
"Great Guy...Great Teammate"
The 6'10" center only had glowing reviews about his former All-Star shooting guard teammate. He referenced LaVine guiding him about living in the city, the nuances of the franchise, navigating the organization, and growing on and off the court together. Vucevic was also quick to mention that he was having one of the best seasons of his career despite the constant trade chatter and scrutiny from the media and fanbase. The main takeaway from his entire opinion is his overwhelming respect for the 29-year-old and how he wishes him nothing but the best moving forward.
Nikola Vucevic on Zach LaVine pic.twitter.com/s9xcnxKFWZ
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) February 5, 2025
Although most fans knew it was time to move on from LaVine, his departure was not all sunshine and rainbows. As the face of the franchise for the past decade and having left a firm stamp in the organization's record books, it truly symbolized the end of another era in Chicago. With just over 24 hours left until this year's trade cutoff, with gates seemingly wide open, who else will be sent away to prepare a complete rebuild around Matas Buzelis?
Vucevic, Coby White, Lonzo Ball Trade Status
Now that their most expensive and decorated trade asset has left, Vucevic, White, and Ball trio remain the most likely candidates to follow suit. The price tag has been made public for Ball, a second-round pick who would reportedly land a contender his services in the final year of his contract. A deal is expected to be made before tomorrow's deadline for a reserve point guard with excellent facilitating and defensive abilities who can consistently knock down the three-point shot. White's value is debatable. Last season, he was a leading candidate for the Most Improved Player award, taking giant strides in scoring and playmaking. He lept from a bench contributor to a legitimate starting NBA guard with three-point capabilities and became a pick-and-roll expert. The Orlando Magic have most recently inquired about his availability and value.
Lastly, Vucevic is expected to remain beyond the deadline, barring a late trade partner from swooping in at the eleventh hour. The Golden State Warriors were interested until Chicago made it known they were seeking first-round draft capital. The Warriors have shifted their focus to adding an All-NBA level talent to maximize Stephen Curry's last remaining years of elite productivity.
The three players whose future with the team has been speculated about the most — Nikola Vučević, Lonzo Ball and Coby White — have scored a combined seven points on 3-for-19 shooting. https://t.co/LrTxkhhPtn
— Drew Stevens (@Drew_H_Stevens) February 5, 2025
Each passing game is another opportunity to showcase these assets to neighboring trade destinations, and last night did not appeal to many. Tonight will be the final outing before deals must be struck and asset values agreed on. Can this trio play themselves into a trade worth executing for Karnisovas and his team?
