Chicago Bulls Goal No. 2: Acquiring a defensive center
Nikola Vucevic is not the answer the Chicago Bulls need in order to win. Last season, the move for Vooch seemed great, but he hasn’t performed up to expectations this year, letting his team and the fans down.
Vooch was a deserving All-Star in his first season with the Bulls. He averaged 21.5 points and 11.5 rebounds per game, shooting nearly 40 percent from the 3-point range. Although it appeared to be a superb acquisition, Bulls fans were not pleased this season with his lack of effort on both ends.
Vooch looked to be going downhill while he was losing it on the floor, as his statistics dropped in every category. On defense, Vooch is a considerable liability when up against big men like Joel Embiid who demolished Vooch in every matchup. Vooch cannot keep up with big men who can score, which is a massive concern for the franchise and their future.
The Bulls have Vooch, Bradley, Thompson, and Simonovic, but none of them can contribute enough defensively to stop a player like Embiid. The Bulls should look to trade Vooch, Coby White, and a pick in order to target Gobert.
Adding a player of this caliber would make the Bulls significantly better on defense. If the Bulls can’t get a star big man, they should go all-in on the draft selecting Mark Williams from Duke, who can develop into a stud at the center position long-term.