Let's talk about a Vuc buyout

[Tetlak]

If Jonas V ends up going back to Europe I could see something transpiring where we buy out Vuc for 15-16 million and Denver uses whatever they have left of their exceptions to pick up the rest. Would be an almost lateral move for them compared to what they have now.

Vuc is better than Jonas. Let Denver trade Jonas+filler for Vuc then the Bulls can let Jonas walk and save the $$.

How does that benefit us exactly? He's already expiring and FA is basically over.

[Michael Jackson]

If Jonas V ends up going back to Europe I could see something transpiring where we buy out Vuc for 15-16 million and Denver uses whatever they have left of their exceptions to pick up the rest. Would be an almost lateral move for them compared to what they have now.

Vuc is better than Jonas. Let Denver trade Jonas+filler for Vuc then the Bulls can let Jonas walk and save the $$.

How does that benefit us exactly? He's already expiring and FA is basically over.

A roster spot for anyone that’s not Vuc?

[prolific passer]

You forget that Steve Kerr was Duncan's teammate going into that free agency. Who knows what he told Duncan about Krause and how he treated his coaches and players.?

[Tetlak]

Vuc is better than Jonas. Let Denver trade Jonas+filler for Vuc then the Bulls can let Jonas walk and save the $$.

How does that benefit us exactly? He's already expiring and FA is basically over.

A roster spot for anyone that’s not Vuc?

Why?

[ScrantonBulls]

The master plan is to keep Vuc and then put him on the staff so he can recruit Jokic. Book it.

[ThisGuyFawkes]

Vuc is fine. If we can't get a decent 1st round pick for him (we can't), then he makes a lot of sense on the roster. We're clearly not tanking, and he fits very well with the new defensive-minded wings (Matas, Noa, Okoro, Pat).

He stretches the floor, passes and rebounds well, and gives us a big body down low.

We could trade him for a couple of 2nd rounders if we were tanking, but we're not. It's just 1 more year, and he can be super helpful as a veteran for the young guys.

[Michael Jackson]

How does that benefit us exactly? He's already expiring and FA is basically over.

A roster spot for anyone that’s not Vuc?

Why?

So,done who fits more long term. Long shot, Josh Primo shows out and ends up looking more like the lottery pick he was. Someone else shows out. A cut a buyout guy etc…. A 2 for one trade etc…

[sco]

So are there any teams out there who'd pay Vuc more than the vet min? I'm fixated on a buyout before the season.

[greenwing]

So are there any teams out there who'd pay Vuc more than the vet min? I'm fixated on a buyout before the season.

There is no incentive to buy Vuc out. If he wants out or if the Bulls want to move on from him then you wait until a center-needy team is willing to give up an assest(s) to acquire a serviceable center for a playoff run.

[sco]

So are there any teams out there who'd pay Vuc more than the vet min? I'm fixated on a buyout before the season.

There is no incentive to buy Vuc out. If he wants out or if the Bulls want to move on from him then you wait until a center-needy team is willing to give up an assest(s) to acquire a serviceable center for a playoff run.

Nobody under any circumstances is giving up an asset that most here would deem useful. Buying him out, presumably at a $3-$8M discount to his salary (because he'd get paid that where he goes), not only frees up salary but it also frees up a roster spot should an interesting prospect become available.

[greenwing]

So are there any teams out there who'd pay Vuc more than the vet min? I'm fixated on a buyout before the season.

There is no incentive to buy Vuc out. If he wants out or if the Bulls want to move on from him then you wait until a center-needy team is willing to give up an assest(s) to acquire a serviceable center for a playoff run.

Nobody under any circumstances is giving up an asset that most here would deem useful. Buying him out, presumably at a $3-$8M discount to his salary (because he'd get paid that where he goes), not only frees up salary but it also frees up a roster spot should an interesting prospect become available.

Ok. Who exactly would you replace him with? Removing Vuc from the roster opens up minutes for Smith, Collins and potentially Essengue. You're not going to find a player of Vucevic's caliber on a mininum deal. So the only argument here is that is in any way plausible is addition by subtraction if you are of the belief that Vuc is a negative for the roster. I think the Bulls are much more likely to use Vuc's contract as an expiring trade chip for a team looking to open up cap space than they are to give him a buyout.

[BullsSD]

Highly doubt this happens. 99% chance he plays and starts for us beginning of season. Then 50/50 he walks or is traded at trade deadline.

[nomorezorro]

the benefit of a hypothetical vucevic buyout isn't really that you make the team better by moving him, or that you add a better player by opening up his roster spot and however much money you save

a vucevic buyout is a move for the future. which might sound silly, because he's only here for one more year anyway. but as long as he's here, he's arguably an impediment to evaluating the pieces around him. let's say we struggle defensively - is that because coby/giddey are an incompatible fit, or is it because we don't have a solid defensive center to play behind them? if we struggle offensively, is it because the pieces are just no good, or are we being hampered by having a big man who doesn't fit the uptempo vision of this front offense? hell, even if we look solid on offense, is that a plus sign for our young guards and wings, or are they being propped up by a guy who isn't in this team's long-term plans?

obviously, it's not like vucevic is blocking some hotshot prospect or an elite defensive centerpiece or anything else. but still, collins and smith are younger centers who have shown some promise, who are better stylistic fits for the way we want to play, and who could theoretically help this team for years to come. plus no vucevic means more shots going to guys like matas, which could be a good thing for their development. getting rid of vucevic can make everything cleaner, even if it ends up being a talent downgrade for this upcoming season.

and honestly, if it is a talent downgrade? that's also arguably a benefit of a vucevic buyout. if the important parts of this team suck, then let's make sure the entire team sucks and we get a good pick next year. we don't have to tank, but i don't want our record being inflated by a 35 year old who will not be on the roster when the 2026 season starts.

[sco]

There is no incentive to buy Vuc out. If he wants out or if the Bulls want to move on from him then you wait until a center-needy team is willing to give up an assest(s) to acquire a serviceable center for a playoff run.

Nobody under any circumstances is giving up an asset that most here would deem useful. Buying him out, presumably at a $3-$8M discount to his salary (because he'd get paid that where he goes), not only frees up salary but it also frees up a roster spot should an interesting prospect become available.

Ok. Who exactly would you replace him with? Removing Vuc from the roster opens up minutes for Smith, Collins and potentially Essengue. You're not going to find a player of Vucevic's caliber on a mininum deal. So the only argument here is that is in any way plausible is addition by subtraction if you are of the belief that Vuc is a negative for the roster. I think the Bulls are much more likely to use Vuc's contract as an expiring trade chip for a team looking to open up cap space than they are to give him a buyout.

This says it better than I could.

the benefit of a hypothetical vucevic buyout isn't really that you make the team better by moving him, or that you add a better player by opening up his roster spot and however much money you save

a vucevic buyout is a move for the future. which might sound silly, because he's only here for one more year anyway. but as long as he's here, he's arguably an impediment to evaluating the pieces around him. let's say we struggle defensively - is that because coby/giddey are an incompatible fit, or is it because we don't have a solid defensive center to play behind them? if we struggle offensively, is it because the pieces are just no good, or are we being hampered by having a big man who doesn't fit the uptempo vision of this front offense? hell, even if we look solid on offense, is that a plus sign for our young guards and wings, or are they being propped up by a guy who isn't in this team's long-term plans?

obviously, it's not like vucevic is blocking some hotshot prospect or an elite defensive centerpiece or anything else. but still, collins and smith are younger centers who have shown some promise, who are better stylistic fits for the way we want to play, and who could theoretically help this team for years to come. plus no vucevic means more shots going to guys like matas, which could be a good thing for their development. getting rid of vucevic can make everything cleaner, even if it ends up being a talent downgrade for this upcoming season.

and honestly, if it is a talent downgrade? that's also arguably a benefit of a vucevic buyout. if the important parts of this team suck, then let's make sure the entire team sucks and we get a good pick next year. we don't have to tank, but i don't want our record being inflated by a 35 year old who will not be on the roster when the 2026 season starts.