Sources: Nikola Vucevic expected to be moved before NBA trade deadline

Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic is off to a strong start to the season and multiple teams are interested in trading for the two-time All-Star, sources told Ahn Fire Digital.

Vucevic, who is making $21.5 million this season in the final year of his contract, is averaging 16.4 points, 9.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game for the Bulls. The 35-year-old, who has eight double-doubles in 18 games, is shooting 49.0 percent from the field, 39.6 percent from beyond the arc and 81.3 percent from the free-throw line.

Chicago is 9-10 on the season. If the regular season ended today, the Bulls would be the 10th seed in the Eastern Conference.

Multiple NBA executives told Ahn Fire Digital they expect Vucevic to be traded before the trade deadline in February since the veteran is better suited to play for a playoff team at this stage of his career and the Bulls recognize that.

The Bulls haven’t made the playoffs since 2022. They acquired Vucevic from the Orlando Magic during the 2020-21 season.

Chicago, led by Vucevic, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso, won 46 games in the 2021-22 season but lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the 2022 playoffs in five quick games.

LaVine and DeRozan play for the Sacramento Kings now, while Caruso is on the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Vucevic doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract. The Golden State Warriors were interested in acquiring the USC product last season, but the Bulls’ asking price was too high, sources said, so the Warriors pivoted to Jimmy Butler.

Vucevic has played for the Philadelphia 76ers, Magic and Bulls. He holds career averages of 17.2 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game in the regular season.

In 16 career playoff games, Vucevic has averages of 18.4 points, 9.9 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game.