- Nikola Jokic believes this season is the last chance for the Bulls core to win the elusive title
- DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine are constant names in trade rumors
- Vucevic inked a three-year, $60 million deal with the Bulls this summer
Nikola Vucevic believes this year is the Chicago Bulls’ core trio’s final opportunity to get their hands on the long-elusive NBA championship.
His comments to Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer come amid the trade rumors surrounding DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine, although neither of them have been traded yet.
“We know we can do better, and we have to do better,” he said. “And we know it’s kind of our last chance as this core of guys to do something.”
DeRozan, a six-time NBA All-Star, is in the final year of his deal with the Bulls and will be an unrestricted free agent in 2024. LaVine signed a five-year contract last summer but has been a regular name in the offseason trade rumors, given the team’s average run over the last couple of seasons.
On his part, Vucevic signed a three-year, $60 million extension with the season, further extending his 12-year career with the team. For a player who has spent enough time with the franchise, his comments show that the Bulls are desperate to make a mark in the 2023-24 season.
With younger teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, and even the Indiana Pacers on the rise, the Bulls, despite their immense star power and experience are falling off the title race.
How Did The Bulls Fare Under The Trio Of Nikola Vucevic, DeMar DeRozan, And Zach LaVine?
After the Bulls acquired DeMar DeRozan via sign-and-trade in 2021, the Bulls, along with LaVine and Vucevic, made the playoffs, where they were pipped 4-1 by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2022 NBA playoffs.
The Bulls finished the regular season with a 46-36 record, with DeRozan leading the scoring. He averaged 27.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.9 assists. LaVine looked in prime touch as well, notching up 24.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.6 assists. Vucevic dropped 17.6 points that season, coupled with 11.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists.
This past season saw the team fall short as they failed to make the playoffs after losing the play-in tournament to the Miami Heat. They finished the regular season with a 40-42 record.
This season saw LaVine marginally lead with 24.8 points. 4.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists. DeRozan’s scoring production dipped a bit as he ended his season with 24.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 5.1 assists. Vucevic was the third highest-scorer for the side in the absence of point guard Lonzo Ball, propping up 17.6 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 3.2 assists — the same numbers as the previous season.
That said, while the individual performances looked strong, the trio as a unit couldn’t get the Bulls past the first round of the playoffs in their two seasons together.
Can The Chicago Bulls Make The Playoffs In The 2023-24 NBA Season?
Without Lonzo Ball for the new season, the Chicago Bulls are already on the back foot without the services of a talented point guard. Now, they will have to look at Coby White to be the floor general and hope that their trio can fire them into the playoffs.
After last winning their NBA championship in 1998, the Bulls have been a far cry from the dominant team they were during the Michael Jordan era.
There was a ray of hope when both Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler were part of the roster, but the last eight seasons have seen the team make the playoffs twice and they have failed to win a series in the postseason since 2015.
Assuming the Bulls run it back with their trio of DeRozan, LaVine, and Vucevic for one more season and put some defense around them, this team making the postseason and beyond looks slim. Only time will tell if they can recreate the magic of the 2021-22 season and be a cinch for the playoffs.
We sincerely appreciate and respect you as a reader of our site. It would help us a lot if you follow us on Google News because of the latest update.
Thanks for following us. We really appreciate your support.
