Many believe the Charlotte Hornets need a center. Nikola Vucevic could be available if he reaches a buyout with the Chicago Bulls. It seems like a good match, but the Hornets have not been mentioned by credible sources as a possible destination for the veteran center.
Does Charlotte not see him as a viable option at the five? Maybe. However, the likely reason behind the deafening silence is Jeff Peterson's roster-building philosophy. The team president has emphasized that the Hornets won't be skipping steps in their rebuild, even if it means suffering from more losing seasons.
Bringing in Vucevic might run contrary to their plans, especially because he is turning 35 in October and is on an expiring contract and, thus, could leave Charlotte in the summer of 2026.
Nikola Vucevic can solve one of Hornets' problems
Still, it's tough not to imagine how beneficial the addition of the two-time All-Star would be for Buzz City.
He is renowned for possessing an impressive arsenal of offensive weapons, having the ability to pound the ball inside and also stretch the floor with his long-range bombs. The Montenegrin vet is hardly a score-first big man, though, as he has also proven to be an effective offensive fulcrum when needed.
Having him anchoring the paint also means more rebounds for his squad, as he has averaged double-digit boards in 11 of his 14 seasons in the NBA.
Defense might be an issue, as Vucevic is a bit of a lumbering mass on that end of the floor. Even so, he has shown himself to be capable of providing sound team defense. And it's not as if he would be a major defensive downgrade compared to the Hornets' current big man trio.
Interestingly, all this Vooch talk might be a moot point. There have been reports that the Bulls are going to open training camp with their incumbent starting center on the roster. It wouldn't be surprising if that turns out to be the case, as Chicago seems hesitant to commit to a full-rebuild mode, as evidenced by how it has constructed its roster and by extending Billy Donovan's contract as head coach.
But if things go south quickly for the Bulls, their stance on retaining Vucevic might also change. In the event that he is placed on the trading block in the weeks leading to the trade deadline, the Hornets might want to finally explore going after him. Of course, that would also depend on how they are doing in the standings by that time.