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NBA Trade Grades: Carter Jr. headlines deal for Nikola Vucevic

By Luke Duffy

ORLANDO, FL - FEBRUARY 06: Zach LaVine #8 of the Chicago Bulls controls the ball against Gary Clark #12 of the Orlando Magic and Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic at Amway Center on February 6, 2021 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - FEBRUARY 06: Zach LaVine #8 of the Chicago Bulls controls the ball against Gary Clark #12 of the Orlando Magic and Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic at Amway Center on February 6, 2021 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images) /
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NBA trade grades (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) /

NBA trade grades for the Chicago Bulls

The Bulls had looked ripe for some movement throughout the year so far, and in Vucevic they have one of the most fundamentally sound big men in the game, who is bang in their prime. Pairing him offensively with LaVine should be fantastic, Vucevic in particular will have never played with somebody who can compliment him in the way LaVine does.

Defensively there are likely to be some issues, but when you also include Coby White with those two, that is an interesting trio to start games with. Certainly, the Bulls should be making the playoffs, which is a plus for Vucevic who has only gotten there twice with the Magic and wasn’t going to be heading back this season.

The only concern if you are a Bulls fan is that part of their future has now been traded away in order to win now. This is not a bad strategy, it has to happen at some time, but as the roster is currently constructed, they are not a contender. Adding the older Ball brother would help, and there are sure to be deals out there that could get them something for Markkanen.

A pair of first-rounders can feel steep if things don’t go well, while Carter Jr. is still only 21 and in his third year in the league. There is every chance he could yet blossom into a reliable and borderline star next to LaVine, but the Bulls opted instead to move him in order to go for a sure-fire hit in Vucevic.

Which again is no problem if it all works out. The Bulls have positioned themselves to be in a good place going forward and the allure of playing for such a famous franchise means they will always get meetings with free agents. It just seems like they are, as of now, a tier above what the Magic were at their peak under Vucevic.

A playoff team yes, but it is easy to get stuck in the middle of the pack quickly. One superstar moving conferences, such as Kevin Durant or James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets recently, and all of these good moves can becoming meaningless. Still, you have to make a move for an All-Star if you think you can get one, and the asking price was not astronomical. Vucevic is on a good deal too, very moveable if needed in the future. The right call for the Bulls on this deadline day.

Grade: A-

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