The reply came without hesitation.
Days after Indiana extended center Myles Turner to a two-year, $60 million contract back in January, Nikola Vucevic was asked about the going rate for himself, as his own free agency was coming up this summer.
“It’s pretty well known around the league what I can do, what I bring to the table,’’ Vucevic told the Sun-Times that day. “That’s great for Myles, but I don’t try and compare myself to other guys where, ‘Hey, this is what he got, this is what I should get.’ . . . I’m more individual in the way I think about it.’’
And the Bulls should be very thankful for that.
In what should really be labeled a hometown discount, the Bulls announced on Wednesday that they had reached a three-year contract extension with the 32-year-old.
A source confirmed reports that the deal was worth $60 million.
“During his time in Chicago, Nikola has proven that he is a special player both on and off the court,’’ Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas said in a statement. “He has produced at an elite level since we acquired him and will remain an integral part of our foundation moving forward. Nikola’s willingness to do whatever is asked of him to help us win, while also being an established veteran leader for our group, makes him a valuable component of the culture of our organization.
“He is a consummate professional and tremendous teammate, which plays a big role in making us an attractive destination for other players. We are excited to have him continue to be part of our journey.’’
The Sun-Times reported last month that Vucevic was looking for a three-year deal, and that he was hoping to get it done before free agency started on Friday.
Staying with the Bulls was always his priority, but also came with a few changes he wanted to see.
A source indicated that Vucevic had several conversations with coach Billy Donovan on how he was being used in the offense at times, so that was definitely on the table in the negotiations. Vucevic would like to see more touches, allowing him to play-make or attack in the paint, especially when he felt he had a mismatch.
Far too often, Vucevic would get a smaller guard or wing switched on to him, and that mismatch was ignored.
Donovan even pointed out several times this season that his ball-handlers missed opportunities to feed the big man in those instances.
Expect that to change this upcoming season, with Karnisovas already insisting he wanted the team’s overall shot profile to change.
A change that should bring a smile to Vucevic’s face, coming off a season in which he played in all 82 regular-season games, averaging 17.6 points, 11 rebounds and 3.2 assists, while shooting just under 35% from three-point range.
Vucevic also became the fourth player in Bulls history with 50-plus double-doubles in a season, joining Artis Gilmore, Charles Oakley and Pau Gasol, as well as the only NBA player to make at least 100 three-pointers (121) and grab 800-plus rebounds (903) last season.
And the good news about the deal?
If Karnisovas & Co. are uncomfortable with the direction of the team over the next few seasons, it’s very moveable.
As for what’s next when free agency becomes official, Karnisovas said both Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu would be tendered qualifying offers, and now that they have they will be restricted free agents.
Expect the Bulls to see what the market offers both guards, before deciding to match or not. The other focus will be on adding outside shooting off the bench.
