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The Chicago Bulls provided the fireworks on trade deadline day by reportedly acquiring All-Star center Nikola Vucevic from the Orlando Magic.
Vucevic should provide an instant spark to Chicago's hopes of making the play-in bracket in the Eastern Conference. He also projects as a franchise cornerstone alongside Zach LaVine, who reacted to the shocking news accordingly.
😳
— Zach LaVine (@ZachLaVine) March 25, 2021
Bulls forward Thaddeus Young–a coveted trade asset himself–also reacted to the news of Vucevic's arrival.
👀👀👀
— THAD YOUNG (@yungsmoove21) March 25, 2021
The deal is especially good news for LaVine.
Pick-and-pops between LaVine and Vucevic could essentially be unguardable for opposing teams. LaVine is shooting 43.7 percent from beyond the arc on 8.1 attempts per game. He is especially prolific above the break, shooting 42 percent on those attempts.
Vucevic, meanwhile, is shooting a career-high 40.6 percent from beyond the arc on 6.5 attempts per game. He is equally proficient in diving to the rim and finishing with an assortment of midrange runners and jump hooks.
High pick-and-rolls with Zach LaVine and Vucevic will be incredibly tough to defend. If opposing teams switch, LaVine can go one-on-one against slower and less athletic bigs. Chicago can also look for entries to Vucevic in the middle of the lane. Going under the screen would be questionable considering how lethal LaVine is from deep, and hard hedges could result in Vucevic getting space to get off his jumper.
Here's the other reason Vucevic is beneficial to LaVine: he has a descending contract. That should allow the Bulls to reward LaVine with a big payday before he reaches free agency after the 2021-22 season.
