The Chicago Bulls appear to be gearing up for a major rebuild, and it’s rumored that they’re open to trading veteran center Nikola Vucevic if the right offer comes along. This comes after already parting ways with DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso.
Meanwhile, the Utah Jazz are looking to build around former Bulls forward Lauri Markkanen, who just signed a five-year, $238 million deal, putting an end to the speculation about his future.
Vucevic could be a solid fit for the Jazz, adding valuable experience to the team and pairing well with Markkanen’s skillset. In a piece on *FadeAway World*, Fran Leiva proposed a trade involving Vucevic heading to Utah in exchange for John Collins and a 2025 first-round pick (via Cleveland).
Collins is in the fourth year of a five-year, $125 million contract and is set to earn $53.2 million over the next two seasons. While a first-round pick would be a win for the rebuilding Bulls, Collins has faced criticism recently, and his salary has been viewed as high given his recent performance.
So why would the Bulls be interested in Collins? As Leiva pointed out, Collins, though inconsistent, is younger and could fill the power forward spot with his athleticism and versatility. A change of scenery might help him revive his career, and the 2025 pick would provide the Bulls with more options as they continue their rebuild.
Though it’s not an ideal deal, Collins’ contract only has two years remaining, and with the Bulls not expected to compete in the near future, they might be willing to take that gamble.
