The Chicago Bulls are one of the more intriguing teams in the NBA, as this summer, they could choose to go in a bunch of different directions. However, Arturas Karnisovas has made it clear that he has no interest in rebuilding the roster, so it seems as though Chicago will be running it back next season.
And if that’s the case, they need to get their priorities in order this offseason. Not only will they have to add pieces to the roster, but they also need to bring their own free agents back into the fold. Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report created an offseason checklist for Chicago, full of important moves.
According to Bailey, one of the Bulls’ top priorities this summer will be re-signing big man Nikola Vucevic, who will be an unrestricted free agent if he doesn’t sign an extension by the end of the month.
“The Chicago Bulls have been in the neighborhood of mediocrity over the last two years, which might suggest they should be willing to move on from unrestricted free agent Nikola Vučević, but talent is talent,” Bailey wrote. “Letting it walk for nothing is a bad idea, and that’s apparently what Artūras Karnišovas reportedly thinks.
“Vučević is 32 years old, but he’s averaged 17.6 points, 11.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists as a Bull. For a team entering the offseason with DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine and Lonzo Ball all on significant contracts, that’d be a tough amount of production to replace.”
If the Bulls want to compete with their current core, re-signing Vucevic will be essential.
