Nikola Vucevic Trying To Make Statement In Contract Year With Chicago Bulls

Nikola Vucevic became an easy scapegoat when the Chicago Bulls struggled last season, and the criticism was reasonable to a certain degree. Vucevic’s overall production and effectiveness took a noticeable dip from his recent All-Star days, with his defensive flaws becoming a bigger problem when the Bulls didn’t have either Lonzo Ball or Alex Caruso available. The fact Chicago traded so much to get Vucevic ahead of the 2021 trade deadline only made the noise louder when he and the team scuffled, though the problems were much bigger than him even with the trade looking like a major overpay.

There was some trade speculation surrounding Vucevic in the offseason, but nothing ever came close to fruition. The 32-year-old is now in a contract year and is eligible for an extension up until June 30, 2023. There was a report earlier in the offseason stating the big man and the Bulls had mutual interest in a deal, but it has been quiet on that front since and there are no guarantees he’ll stick around past this season. If things go south, there’s also no guarantee he makes it past this trade deadline.

Vucevic and the Bulls are obviously hoping to avoid that worst-case scenario. In a small sample size so far, he’s doing his best to prove he’s worth keeping around, even if the results haven’t always been the prettiest during a 2-2 start.

Through four games, Vucevic is averaging 18.3 points, 13.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.5 assists in 31.3 minutes per contest, numbers that aren’t all that far off from last season. He’s not shooting particularly well, making just 41.4% from the field and 27.8% from 3-point range.

However, the impact stats paint a more positive picture, and the offense has been significantly better with Vucevic on the court. It’s also worth noting some of the early differences in Vucevic’s play and usage compared to recent seasons. Nearly 40% of his field goal attempts have come in the restricted area, compared to just over 26% last season, with fewer shots coming from mid-range. He’s not converting around the rim like he should be (about 61%), but that should come.

Relatedly, Vucevic is taking over five shots per game from the foul line and even has a 12-of-12 night from the charity stripe to his name. He took 1.7 free throws per game last season and didn’t take a single free throw over the last four playoff games against the Milwaukee Bucks. For his career, he’s at just 2.2 free throws per game, contributing to his average true shooting percentage.

Toss in Vucevic’s early dominance on the offensive glass, and it’s clear he and the Bulls are trying to establish him more in the paint. He has gotten a well-deserved reputation as a finesse big, but he’s trying to impose his will inside, even if the results aren’t totally there yet.

Vucevic’s field goal percentage should normalize, though his 3-point percentage will be something to monitor after he dipped to 31.4% last season from 40.0% the season before. That 40.0% is looking like an outlier aided by the fan-less games during the pandemic, but the hope is he can get to around his career mark of 34.8% while sticking at his current 3-point frequency of about four or five per game.

As for inside the arc, will Vucevic continue on his current track? Over five free throws per game isn’t reasonable to expect, but even being around three or four per game would be a plus. Continuing to trade mid-range shots for shots around the basket would also be good, even if that mid-range pick-and-pop game is useful at times. And while his offensive rebound percentage isn’t sustainable, creating those extra possessions is important and hopefully he can keep up a high rate.

While Vucevic can be frustrating at times and the questions about the blockbuster trade for him are more than fair, he’s still one of the better centers in the NBA with a unique skill set. It might not work out for him and the Bulls as they move ahead with this weird roster, but even if that’s the case, he could earn himself a nice payday by putting forth a strong season.