Nikola Vucevic was vocal about the Chicago Bulls’ struggles after the side lost three games in a row.
The Bulls were favorites heading into the clash against the Oklahoma City Thunder but were blown out 124-110 after an all-round performance from the latter vaulted over the DeMar DeRozan-less Chicago.
Zach LaVine and Vucevic had 24 and 19 points respectively, but the offensive struggles were clearly visible, and the center lamented how they were clueless at certain points of the game. The consecutive losses have put the Bulls at 19-24 and tenth in the East.
Vucevic’s complaint comes amid what has been a turbulent season for Chicago, especially with the onus on the unrest between coach Billy Donovan and LaVine that has been garnering headlines.
The Athletic’s Darnell Mayberry outlined the Bulls’ struggles and in his column was a quote by Vucevic that puts the team’s struggles under the microscope.
“The biggest thing I think for us is offensively at times we look like we really don’t know what to do. I know when (DeRozan’s) in the game he has the ball a lot and we depend on him a lot. But we still have a lot of weapons out there even without him. And we still have ways that we can score. At times, we got a little too stagnant. I think that’s what happened in the first half. We tried too hard to get something instead of working the defense, being patient.”
He further added:
“I mean, the coaches, they talk about all the stuff you mentioned,” Vučević said. “We know it’s a recurring problem for us. It’s kind of been an issue for us, the details, the little things that matter in the game. I can’t say that they haven’t put an emphasis on it. They do. And they do it every game. A lot of times, like with the long rebounds, we keep talking about it. As players, we just have to do a better job at locking in and focusing on those little things because that’s the difference.
Vucevic’s thoughts come as a blow for the side looking to make the postseason as they enter the second half of the season.
Nikola Vucevic Trade Rumors: Brooklyn Nets Interested In The Bulls’ Big Man
Vucevic has been one of the Chicago stars expected to find a new home by the end of the season. He has been linked to multiple teams over the last few months and the Los Angeles Lakers were reportedly one of the teams favored to land him and DeRozan in a blockbuster trade.
The latest rumor puts the Brooklyn Nets in the mix as it was reported that the team was interested in adding him and Alex Caruso. Erik Slater of ClutchPoints said the team was keen on adding the two names to their roster.
Chicago has plummeted to 11-16 and may be without Lonzo Ball for the entire season. Alex Caruso has steadily cemented his reputation as a high-energy defender off the bench during his time with the Bulls. I’d keep an eye on Caruso’s $9 million salary if things continue to go south there.
Similar to Caruso, Nikola Vucevic could be a target for the Nets if Chicago blows it up. Vucevic is a career 34.9 percent shooter from 3-point range and offers some secondary creation as a post scorer. The big man also ranks seventh in the league in rebounding (10.6 per game) and would provide a major boost for a Brooklyn team that ranks near dead last on the glass. The Bulls gave up Wendell Carter Jr., Otto Porter Jr., and two first-round picks for Vucevic in a trade that looks increasingly bad each day their title hopes fade. It would not be surprising to see Chicago look to recoup some value for the 32-year-old.
Only time will tell if the Bulls will indeed part with two vital cogs that form the core of the team. But for now, they have chinks in their armor to figure out.
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