Warriors Get Good News on Longtime All-Star Target

The Chicago Bulls and Nikola Vucevic are nearing a buyout agreement, per reports, spelling good news for the Golden State Warriors, who have long coveted the All-Star big man.

According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Bulls are leaning towards buying out Vucevic’s expiring contract of $21 million due to a lack of trade market for the veteran.

“There hasn’t been much of a market for Nikola Vucevic all along, dating back to last trade deadline,” Fischer told Bleacher Report. “I think at this juncture, we’re probably more likely to see a Nikola Vucevic buyout midseason than we are to see a trade.”

Despite his diminishing trade value, Vucevic, 34, can still be a critical cog to a championship-level team. Last season, he averaged 18.5 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists over 73 games, while maintaining 53/40/80 shooting splits.

Vucevic drained 1.8 threes per game from 4.4 attempts, a terrific clip for a big man who can also punish defenses in the post.

Warriors Have Long Coveted Vuc

It’s no secret in NBA circles that the Warriors have eyed Vucevic for years.

In the final hours of the 2025 NBA trade deadline, the Warriors made a late push for the Bulls center, but were unable to strike a deal, per insider Marc Stein.

Earlier in the season, the Warriors and Bulls had a deal in place that would have sent both Vucevic and Zach LaVine to Golden State, per Stein. However, the Warriors reneged at the last minute, pivoting instead to Jimmy Butler, the then-Heat star. Ultimately, the Bulls traded LaVine to the Kings and held onto Vucevic.

Warriors Still Need a Center

According to Chicago Sports Network’s K.C. Johnson, the Warriors backed down fromt talks for Vucevic on several occasions due to the Bulls’ high asking price.

If and when the Bulls release Vucevic into free agency, the Warriors can sign him outright for the veteran’s minimum, which would be their ideal scenario.

As of July 28, the Warriors have only nine players on the roster, and no legitimate center to boot. With Kevon Looney departing as a free agent, the Warriors have only Quinten Post and Trayce Jackson-Davis as players who will play backup center minutes in the 2025-26 season.

The Warriors have been linked with veteran big man Al Horford since the start of free agency, but a deal is being held up due to the Jonathan Kuminga situation, per reports.

The lack of options at center meant that the Warriors started Draymond Green at the 5 throughout the 2025 NBA playoffs, a move that backfired against the Timberwolves. After the series, head coach Steve Kerr made it clear that his team needs a new center.

“I don’t want to start next season with Draymond as our starting five,” Kerr said in his exit press conference, via NBC Sports Bay Area. “I think it’s doable for the last 30 games like we did this year, but you see the toll it takes on him. He’s talked about it too.”

Green, a former Defensive Player of the Year, admitted that playing center took a toll on his body, hampering his ability to play defense at a high level.