When the Chicago Bulls initially sent off their two-time All-Star Zach LaVine in exchange for three mid-level players and their own draft pick in return, many thought it was another indictment on Arturas Karnisovas and the front office. Zach Collins, Tre Jones, and Kevin Huerter are typical role players in their upper 20s on expiring contracts and likely won't be in Chicago long-term. Although a few weeks of sample size doesn't determine the outcome of the trade, the Bulls' return looks more promising than initially thought. Huerter has cashed 14 three-point makes in his last three outings, and Collins has been putting up career-altering numbers in place of the injured Nikola Vucevic. Does the recent outburst from their new 6'11" center warrant a more extended experiment, or will he be shipped off this summer or next trade deadline along with the masses?
Monster Numbers As The Starting Center
While the five-game sample size is nothing to hand out awards over, Collins has made one of the most surprising and impressive debuts of late for the Bulls. Through three outings, he was 5-for-13, including 1-for-7 from deep, scoring 15 points and grabbing 16 boards. Keep in mind that Vucevic was on the court for those games. Vucevic was sidelined Monday and Wednesday, moving Collins to the starting center for the 76ers and Clippers matchups. In those two games, he was 14-for-24, 3-of-7 from three-point land, scored 40 points, and snatched 22 rebounds. He added eight assists during that span, compared to his four in his previous three games. At just 27 years old, does he have the potential to be Chicago's starting center through the rebuild?
Zach Collins despite the loss:
— BullsMuse (@BullsMuse_) February 27, 2025
21 PTS (season-high)
17 REB (career-high)
6 AST (ties season-high)
2 STL
8/14 FG
2/4 3FG
WHAT A GAME. pic.twitter.com/Ks1HF94vBr
Time To Move On From Vucevic
Many associate Vucevic's arrival from Orlando with the beginning of the end in Chicago, and they aren't too far off. The combination of being fleeced in that trade, his zero All-Star appearances since, the Zach LaVine extension, Patrick Williams's busted draft selection, and Chicago's failure to land any All-NBA caliber players all played a pivotal role in keeping Chicago away from relevancy. Their 34-year-old center has one of his best seasons unfolding, but it should only be leveraged into a trade. With an expiring contract next summer and a rebuild on the cusp, there's no place for an overpriced aging center.
If nothing else, maybe Zach Collins is teaching Artūras Karnišovas that Nikola Vučević isn’t as important to both sides of the ball as he thought… https://t.co/o0HTYLuaQx
— Drew Stevens (@Drew_H_Stevens) February 27, 2025
Collins has proved in his two-game opportunity to be in the starting five that Vucevic is not providing the Bulls anything of value. If he can sustain his level of play for the remainder of the year, Chicago would be foolish not to keep the younger, cheaper option and dangle Vucevic in trade talks to a contending roster. There would be plenty of suitors, and he was almost dealt away earlier this month at the cutoff.
Per @TheSteinLine, The Bulls have reportedly hoped Nikola Vučević’s strong offensive season would bring a trade offer with at least one future first-round pick. However, that may not be realistic in this market, even with Vučević averaging 20.7 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 57.3% FG, & 45.5% 3PT pic.twitter.com/VTfDHBXw49
— GSW Ball Report (@GSWBallReport) December 29, 2024
