Nikola Vucevic sends an urgent message to the front office about the need for a trade deadline

It’s about time for Chicago Bulls. The NBA trade deadline is scheduled for February 5 and no one knows what lies ahead.

Meanwhile, the veterans center Nikola Vucevic turns off call to action to the organization, according to Joe Covelli of The Chicago Sun-Times. One thing is certain, Vucevic does not want the Bulls to be in the same cycle.

“I think there are certain things this team needs to do for the next step, but we’ll see what happens,” Vucevic said. “If nothing happens, then it’s up to us to try to figure it out and get there. You know it’s not fun when you’re in the same position year after year, especially when you can’t get out of that game, get stuck behind Miami every time, so we’ll see how it goes.”

Since 2022, the Bulls have won 39 games twice and 40 games once. Twice they were the play-off team. However, they haven’t made the playoffs since 2021-22, when they won 46 games.

All in all, Vucevic knows what kind of player the Bulls need.

“Mostly we need some size and athleticism,” Vucevic replied. “We’re pretty small at most positions. I think that’s it, that would be the main thing. The way the league is right now and a lot of teams have these big wings, I think that’s something that can definitely help us if we add some of that. Just the way the game has changed, the way the game has evolved, most teams have two, three, four and 6’9-8.”

How does Nikola Vučević feel about the latest addition to the Bulls

Over the weekend, the Bulls acquired a center Dario Saric from the Sacramento Kings in a three-team trade.

Like Vučević, Šarić is from a similar part of the world. Vucevic is from Switzerland, and Šarić is from Croatia. All in all, Vucevic is happy to have him in Chicago as another much-needed big man.

“I know him quite well,” Vucevic said of Saric. “He’s from the same region. I met him when he came to the NBA, but I watched him when he was younger, so I know him pretty well. He’s a very good guy, he knows how to play. He’s a high-IQ player, experienced, he’s been to the playoffs, he’s been around winning teams, so from that standpoint, he’s going to help us even more at the position and he can help us at the center position.”

Zach Collins, the backup center, came out with a long-term toe injury— Vucevic hopes that Saric will fill the void.

“We showed throughout the year that when we played big, we were pretty good,” said Vucevic. “It’s unfortunate that Zach got injured because I felt we were doing really well, but hopefully with Dario we can get him in, try to use some of that big lineup and see where it goes. I think he can fit in well with the way we want to play.”

Vucevic, 35, is out of contract and should become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. He himself was on receiving rumors about the end of the trade. Vucevic is averaging 16.9 points and 9.0 rebounds per game.

The Bulls are 24-26.