Despite his name being circulated throughout the offseason in trade rumors and buyout rumors, Nikola Vucevic isn’t phased by any of this. In fact, he’s almost expected this due to the nature of the NBA.

When asked about the rumors of him leaving the Chicago Bulls, he said most of them were false and he fully expects to start the season with them. Vucevic said it was pure speculation, largely fueled by him being in the last year of his contract.

“There are always rumors. Most of them are false. It’s a bit of nonsense. For example, the buy-out was misinterpreted in Europe: the journalist wrote that if there was no ‘trade’ during the season, there might be a ‘buy-out’ option before the ‘deadline’,” Vucevic said. “I know how the business works: in the last year of a contract, there is always speculation. Since I can’t control anything, I try not to worry about it.”

Chicago’s general manager Marc Eversley reached out to Vucevic to personally tell him the rumors are fake and they have no intentions of moving him at this time.

“The Bulls’ GM (Marc Eversley), who had contacted me after all the rumors about me, confirmed that nothing was true and that everything we had said to each other after the season was still relevant,” Vucevic said. “I knew it but it’s always nice when your GM contacts you to tell you.”

When talking about his goals and future in the NBA, Vucevic has went on record to say that he wants to win a championship in career. He has made it clear he doesn’t know when he’ll retire, but the 34-year-old has not set an expiration date on his career.

“I haven’t set myself an age limit. As long as I’m physically well, motivated and have a role on the pitch that suits me, I hope to continue playing. I feel very good physically and mentally. I’m coming off a very good season,” Vucevic said. “I’m entering the last year of my contract with Chicago. After that, we’ll see what opportunities and roles are offered. I know that sooner or later my role will evolve, and I am ready to accept that. I think I still have a few good years ahead of me.”

According to Jake Fischer, the Warriors are interested in a potential sign-and-trade involving Josh Giddey and Jonathan Kuminga. This comes at a time where the Chicago Bulls are also at an impasse with one of their young, promising players.

“I can report that there have been multiple teams who have reached out to Josh Giddey’s representation about having interest in Josh Giddey. Golden State is one of them. 

“Golden State would be interested depending how the machinations go in some type of Josh Giddey-Jonathan Kuminga sign-and-trade, to my understanding,” said Fischer.

How long have the Warriors had interest in Giddey? Since 2021 when the Oklahoma City Thunder selected him with the sixth overall pick, just one pick ahead of Golden State’s pick.

“The Warriors were prepared on draft night, way back when in 2021, for Jonathan Kuminga to go #6 to Oklahoma City. And they were ready to take Josh Giddey #7,” added Fischer.

Both Giddey and Kuminga are looking for long-term deals that see them making close to $30 million per year. Chicago and Golden State are not fond of that.

It’s unclear what else would be thrown into this potential deal, but the groundwork is set surrounded around Giddey and Kuminga – two promising players of the National Basketball Association.

According to Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, the Chicago Bulls and Josh Giddey aren’t seeing eye-to-eye contract-wise as the Bulls want to pay him less than what he wants.

Giddey wants to be paid $30 million per year, which is roughly the same contract Jalen Suggs secured with the Orlando Magic.

It’s being reported Chicago is $8 to $10 million apart in negotiations, that has caused a tear between the two sides.

If the 22-year-old were to take the $11 million qualifying offer for the upcoming season, then he would become an unrestricted free agent. This, in turn, would allow teams to have more salary cap to get him at the price he wants.

Plus, organizations wouldn’t have to be hindered to matching rights. A significant difference in how teams would be approaching the rising player.

After the All-Star break, Giddey averaged 21.2 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 9.3 assists. This saw him take a leap defensively and offensively to boost the Bulls. He essentially became their number one option in the eyes of many.

“I think from the 50 games at the start of the season, it was two completely different players, and not only talking statistically,’’ Giddey said. ‘‘It was a confidence level, aggression level, effort level. You asked me to sell myself, I’d say the second half of the year is the player who I am. The first half was a completely different guy. Confidence was down, aggression down. Probably was down trying to fit in too much.”