By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Nikola Vucevic is expected to discuss a potential contract extension with the Chicago Bulls.
Vucevic, 31, is set to make $22M in the last year on his current contract, all that remains of the four-year, $100M contract inked in 2019. The next step can be a two-year contract with an option for the second season, as reported by Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun Times.
The experienced center and the Bulls are slated to talk about a possible new contract during the training camp and both sides seem willing to push beyond the 2022-23 season, as noted in the latest update on his status.
Heavily featured in trade rumors over the last few months kept both sides busy, but Vucevic is still in Chicago and definitely an extremely valuable asset. Struggling on both ends for large chunks of the 2021-22 season must have generated trade speculation. But Vucevic is now considered probable to get one more chance to play in Chicago.
He averaged 15.6 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.9 blocks, and 0.8 steals per contest over 89 appearances between the 2021-22 Regular Season and the 2022 Playoffs. The former USC standout, selected 16th overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2011 NBA draft, spent the majority of his career at the Orlando Magic. He was traded to the Bulls during the 2020-21 season.
Apart from a possible extension and the training camp, he was not included in Montenegro’s list for the 2022 EuroBasket. In contrast, Bulls teammate Marko Simonovic is expected to play for the Brave Falcons in EuroBasket and preceding 2023 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers.
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