Nikola Vucevic and Taj Gibson (Photo : NBAE via Getty Images)
The Chicago Bulls could trade Taj Gibson for Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic, according to the latest trade scenario in the league.
The Magic have shown they are serious about winning now after offseason moves that altered the team's path heading to the next season. The Magic acquired Serge Ibaka in a trade that sent Victor Oladipo to the Thunder, and signed Bismack Biyombo to a four-year $72 million deal, bolstering Orlando's frontcourt.
But according to Maxwell Ogden of Sports Illustrated's Fansided, Vucevic may not fit in the Magic's recent acquisitions as the team has "sealed Vucevic's fate" after acquiring Biyombo, who would likely start at center for Orlando.
It is unknown whether the Magic would truly consider trading Vucevic, who averaged 18.2 points and 8.9 rebounds per game last season. But if the Magic intends to ship the 25-year-old center, the Bulls could be a destination according to Ogden.
"The Chicago Bulls have an All-Star shooting guard in Jimmy Butler, and a head coach, Fred Hoiberg, with the front office's backing. Hoiberg runs an offense that relies upon the versatility of its big men, and that's where Nikola Vucevic comes into play," Ogden wrote.
"Bobby Portis is a fine young player, and Taj Gibson is consistent, but Vucevic would be an upgrade over both."
The Bulls were able to add a center in Robin Lopez after trading Derrick Rose to the New York Knicks. But that only leaves the Bulls with a thin frontcourt rotation of Lopez, Taj Gibson and Bobby Portis. Adding Vucevic would provide the Bulls a scoring big man, someone they could use to fill in for Pau Gasol, who is highly likely to leave Chicago.
As Ogden noted, the Bulls could ship Gibson and probably a future draft pick to the Magic for Vucevic. Gibson could nicely slide as a backup to Ibaka and Biyombo and would provide a young Magic squad with another locker room presence.
The Magic have yet to indicate they are willing to move Vucevic, but it could happen if the price is right, especially for a piece that could help in Orlando's win-now campaign next season.
