The Chicago Bulls enter Wednesday’s matchup with the Cavaliers having dropped eight of their last nine games, a sharp reversal after a 5-0 start to the season. The slide has intensified scrutiny on veteran center Nikola Vucevic, the team’s rotation choices and possible trade scenarios as the February deadline approaches.
Vucevic Benched, Then Reinstated
Chicago’s lone win during the 1-8 stretch, a 129-126 decision over the Hornets, ended with Vucevic on the bench for the final 19 minutes while Zach Collins and Jalen Smith closed the game. The move fed questions about how the 35-year-old fits a roster built to play faster than his preferred deliberate style.
“Those questions creep into your mind, especially when things aren’t going well,” Vucevic said, acknowledging the speculation.
Head coach Billy Donovan downplayed the idea of a permanent change. “I wouldn’t want to take one game and say, ‘OK, we’re going to change everything,’” Donovan told reporters.
In the following contest — a 114-104 loss to the Pelicans — Donovan reverted to his usual rotation, keeping Vucevic on the floor late while Collins and Smith logged only 12 and 13 minutes, respectively.
Buzelis’ Defensive Assignment Could Shift
Second-year forward Matas Buzelis has primarily guarded bigger wings this season, but Donovan said two-big lineups might push Buzelis to the perimeter more often. “I feel pretty confident with his foot speed and length that he can guard multiple positions,” the coach noted, adding that such a switch would not change Buzelis’ offensive responsibilities.
Uncertainty Around Coby White
Vice president of basketball operations Artūras Karnišovas has publicly stated the franchise intends to keep Coby White. Internally, however, team personnel question whether ownership will meet the price when the guard reaches unrestricted free agency this summer. If the Bulls are unwilling to offer a deal comparable to last offseason’s pact with Josh Giddey, some around the club believe shopping White before the deadline could be the prudent move.
Calls to Pivot Toward 2026 Draft
Columnist Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times argues the recent 5-15 stretch should convince the front office to pivot toward a full rebuild. With no clear All-Star on the roster and Chicago viewed as an unfavorable free-agent destination, Cowley contends that targeting the talent-rich 2026 draft class is the clearest path out of the league’s middle ground.
The Bulls’ performance over the coming weeks — and any moves involving Vucevic, White or other veterans — will likely determine whether the organization stays the course or shifts into asset-gathering mode before the trade deadline.
Source: Hoops Rumors
