Nikola Vucevic would like to finish the season in the same group

This week is doubly decisive for the Bulls. First because they will play five times in seven days, but also because the trade deadline is approaching, and like every year, Chicago is at the center of rumours. This season it is all the more justified because the team includes many players who are in the last year of their contracts such as Kobe White, Kevin Huerter, Zach Collins, Ayo Dosunmu and Jevon Carter. Not forgetting, of course, Nikola Vucevic, whose profile is of interest to several teams.

“In terms of the trade deadline, there’s always discussion, things can always happen, and this year is special because of the contract situation of a lot of players, but I really like this group.” responds Montenegrin. “I love being with these guys. This is a great group that really wants to support each other and play good basketball. A lot of them have something to prove, because we had doubts. I’d like to see what we can do and how far we can go this season, but the front office has to make decisions and we all understand that.”

With a perfectly balanced record (23w-23d), the Bulls are well established Top 10 in their conferenceand are very close to the 6th place held by the Sixers with one more win. We better understand why Vučević is not very inclined to let the management break the collective setup. According to Billy Donovan, Arturas Karnisovas and his deputies are less active than usual.

“On the part of Arturas, as far as actual significant movements go, it’s very quiet”reports the Bulls coach, who spoke with his superiors on Monday. “Nothing concrete has happened. At this stage you still have to have partners. I think Arturas and general manager Mark Eversley, along with the front offices, will make decisions that will benefit the organization in the long term. He told me again on Monday that there is not much going on right now.”

There seems to be a general calm as we head into the less lively “trade deadline,” and recent injuries to Ja Morant and Giannis Antetokounmpo haven’t helped matters.