(670 The Score) Veteran center Nikola Vucevic is set to return to the Bulls.
Vucevic and the Bulls are finalizing a three-year, $60-million deal, Shams Charania of the Athletic reported Wednesday afternoon. Vucevic was set to hit unrestricted free agency Friday evening.
Vucevic staying put in Chicago came as no surprise, as Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas had publicly affirmed the team’s desire to retain him. The Bulls had also paid a big price to acquire Vucevic in March 2021, sending young center Wendell Carter Jr. and two first-round picks to the Magic to land him.
Vucevic, who will turn 33 in October, averaged 17.6 points and 11.0 rebounds while playing all 82 games last season. Vucevic shot 52.0% overall and 34.9% from 3-point range.
Vucevic returning to the mix further hints at continuity for the Bulls, whose primary tools to improve in free agency are the mid-level exception and the bi-annual exception. The Bulls have also browsed the trade market by shopping star guard Zach LaVine, but they’ve set a high price for him and nothing has come to fruition, according to reports.
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