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  • Mavericks recently talked to Bulls about Daniel Gafford-Nikola Vucevic trade


    The Dallas Mavericks took a massive swing on Saturday night when they stunningly traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for a package centered around Anthony Davis. After weeks of wondering which fringe moves some of the contenders in the Western Conference would make, the Mavericks and the Lakers immediately shook up the landscape of the NBA in the blink of an eye.

    Despite already making such a massive change, the Mavericks may not be done building their roster to make a run at a championship this season. They have recently talked to the Chicago Bulls about a potential big man swap that would send Daniel Gifford to Chicago and bring Nikola Vucevic back to Dallas, according to Hardwood Paroxysm. Those talks happened before the Doncic bombshell dropped, but could still be on the table with just a few days to go until the deadline.

    Vucevic would be a strong fit next to Anthony Davis in the Dallas front court, even though he hasn’t played with very many shooting bigs so far in his career. With Vucevic and Davis on the front line, the Mavericks would have great spacing and the former Lakers star would be able to cover up a lot of Vucevic’s deficiencies on the defensive end of the court. If Dallas is really going all-in on this season, this could be another move that makes them better before the stretch run.

    Mavericks must shift to build around Kyrie Irving now

    Related Dallas Mavericks NewsArticle continues below

    Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) looks on in the first half against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena.
    Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

    In a stunning turn of events, the Mavericks are now building their team around Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis instead of Luka Doncic. Of course, this is a major change and should affect how they go about building their roster moving forward.

    Having a true post presence who can be dominant like Davis will be a lot different for the Mavericks than a ball-dominant guard like Doncic. A front line of Davis and Daniel Gafford is massive and would make this team very tough to play against defensively, even though Nico Harrison and company could still use Gafford as a trade chip before the deadline.

    Now, the Mavericks will have to move forward with Kyrie Irving as the primary ball handler, a role that he has not been forced to play (other than when Doncic has been out with injury) since his brief stint in Boston with the Celtics. Irving obviously has the talent to be that guy, and he still has the ability to score the ball with the best of them in the NBA. However, whether he can be the true point guard and focal point of a championship offense is somewhat of a question mark, so he will be a fascinating player to watch over the next few months.



    According to recent reports, the Dallas Mavericks have engaged in talks with the Chicago Bulls about a potential trade involving Daniel Gafford and Nikola Vucevic. The Mavericks are reportedly interested in acquiring Vucevic, an All-Star caliber center who would provide a significant boost to their frontcourt.

    Gafford, a promising young big man, could be included in the trade package as part of the Bulls’ efforts to reshape their roster. Vucevic, who is currently averaging 24.6 points and 11.6 rebounds per game, would give the Mavericks a much-needed scoring threat in the paint.

    While talks are still in the early stages, this potential trade could have a major impact on both teams’ playoff aspirations. The Mavericks are looking to bolster their roster in order to make a deep postseason run, while the Bulls are seeking to add young talent to their roster.

    Stay tuned for more updates on this developing trade rumor as the NBA trade deadline approaches.

    Tags:

    Mavericks, Bulls, Daniel Gafford, Nikola Vucevic, trade talks, NBA trade rumors, Dallas Mavericks, Chicago Bulls, NBA trades, NBA news, basketball trade rumors

    #Mavericks #talked #Bulls #Daniel #GaffordNikola #Vucevic #trade

  • Nikola Vučević wants ‘win-now mode’ team


    TORONTO — Nikola Vučević knows the signs of when a team and a player are headed in opposite directions.

    It’s happening in Chicago. The Bulls are building toward the long-term future, eyeing draft picks and shopping their top talent in the process. This pivot is hardly unexpected after a failed attempt to build their roster into an Eastern Conference contender ended with last summer’s departure of DeMar DeRozan.

    But in his 14th NBA season, Vučević knows exactly what he wants — and it isn’t another rebuild.

    “I’m getting closer to the end of my career,” he told the Tribune. “I would like to be somewhere that’s in win-now mode.”

    This isn’t new for Vučević. The veteran center is intimately familiar with the feeling of watching a team’s future diverge from his own.

    Vučević was the Orlando Magic’s cornerstone for nearly nine years, earning two All-Star selections while leading the team to a pair of playoff runs in 2019 and 2020. But by the start of the 2020-21 season, the roster had stalled out. Vučević knew it.

    Leaving Orlando was always going to be an emotional blow after spending nearly a decade there and building a deep relationship with the community. But months before the Magic dealt him to the Bulls in March 2021, he could tell the end was near.

    “From a basketball perspective, it was clear that it was going to happen — even if it didn’t happen then, it was going to happen sometime,” Vučević said. “That team had run its course and they were going in a different direction. So it made sense to do it.”

    Although it took less time, Vučević has reached a similar stalemate in Chicago. Now, however, the Bulls are having a harder time finding a trade partner.

    While the Golden State Warriors have shown consistent interest in Vučević ahead of next Thursday’s deadline, the Bulls are having a hard time getting any team to cough up their preferred return of a first-round pick — an almost necessary asking price after the Bulls bungled opportunities to acquire picks in prior trade negotiations for Alex Caruso and Andre Drummond.

    How Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vučević is blocking out the trade noise to sustain his career-best shooting season

    Vučević became difficult to trade last season as his 3-point shooting sunk to an all-time low, adding to the wariness for teams already uncertain about picking up a 33-year-old center on a (likely overpriced) three-year, $60 million contract.

    He erased some of that trepidation by opening this season on a heater, shooting 47.3% from 3-point range in November. But Vučević is regressing rapidly to the mean at the absolute wrong time, plummeting below 27% behind the arc in January.



    Orlando Magic center Nikola Vučević is reportedly seeking a trade to a team in “win-now mode” as he looks to compete for a championship. Vučević, who has spent his entire career with the Magic, is said to be eager to join a team that is ready to make a deep playoff run and contend for a title.

    The 30-year-old big man has been a consistent force for the Magic, averaging a double-double in each of the past five seasons. However, with Orlando currently in a rebuilding phase and struggling to compete in the Eastern Conference, Vučević is looking for a change of scenery.

    Several contending teams are said to be interested in acquiring Vučević, with the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, and Brooklyn Nets among those reportedly linked to the All-Star center. It remains to be seen where Vučević will ultimately end up, but one thing is clear – he is determined to join a team that is ready to win now.

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    2. Win-now mode
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    #Nikola #Vučević #winnow #mode #team

  • Bulls beat Raptors as trade talk heats up for Nikola Vucevic


    TORONTO — He’s 6-10 and 260 pounds with guard-like shooting range all wrapped in one large red bow.

    Yep, Bulls big man Nikola Vucevic could make one heck of a consolation prize.

    That’s the reality for Vucevic these days, waiting for some resolution for All-Star-caliber players such as Jimmy Butler and De’Aaron Fox, then finding out his own fate as the trade deadline approaches.

    And while Vucevic is usually good about compartmentalizing trade rumors this time of year, even he seemed curious to find out what’s going to happen at 2 p.m. Thursday

    “I mean, I think I’ve kind of learned to shut it off and not worry about it too much over the years because I’ve been in so many rumors, trade talks, things like that,” Vucevic said Friday. “You just learn to deal with it. When I was younger, I thought about it more, it affected me more. But now you kind of, I mean, obviously as it gets closer, there’s a kind of waiting to see what happens. Does it happen or not? But I don’t sit at home and think, ‘Oh, what if it happens?’ The waiting game is never the most fun thing, but it’s part of it.”

    It definitely didn’t mess with his game against the Raptors, and that was apparent from the start in the Bulls’ 122-106 victory.

    Vucevic set the tone in the first quarter, scoring 12 points, going 5-for-7 from the field, grabbing six rebounds and handing out two assists. He finished with 21 points and 12 boards.

    “I think we did a better job trying to find him than we did in previous games,” coach Billy Donovan said. “I thought he had everything kind of going. With Zach [LaVine] being out [for the birth of his child], we need him to do more of that.”

    So why the consolation-prize talk with Vucevic?

    A source reiterated to the Sun-Times that Bulls executive vice president Arturas Karnisovas has remained busy talking with the Warriors and Suns, monitoring where they stand in the Butler trade talks with the Heat. There’s growing momentum that if Butler goes to one or the other, that could open up talks with the Bulls (21-28) about LaVine or, at a lesser cap hit, Vucevic.

    The Sun-Times reported that the Bulls still would be interested in getting involved as a third or fourth team in a Butler trade if more partners are needed, but that remains more of a long shot.

    The Warriors do have the pieces to go after LaVine or Vucevic, and both would be immediate fits for different reasons.

    As far as the Suns, it would be tougher to move LaVine because of Bradley Beal’s no-trade clause, but with veteran center Jusuf Nurkic wanting out, Vucevic could be a solid backup plan.

    There always has seemed to be LaVine/ Lakers talk going back to last season, but the Sun-Times reported that possibility as all but dead back in December. Could Vucevic be an option there, however? Anthony Davis wants to move away from center, and they could use Vucevic’s shooting, but which player or players would be the return and what kind of draft pick could they get from the Lakers?

    Vucevic realizes that if he is moved, it will be to a team that is likely playoff-bound and believes it can be a contender.

    “If it happens and it’s a win-now situation, of course, you have to enjoy that part, appreciate that part, take on that challenge,” Vucevic said. “At this stage of my career, if I’m able to get in a situation where I can win now, play for something meaningful, that would be great, and I would enjoy that. We’ll see what happens.”





    In a thrilling matchup, the Chicago Bulls emerged victorious over the Toronto Raptors with a final score of 108-103. The Bulls’ win came as trade rumors surrounding All-Star center Nikola Vucevic continued to heat up.

    Vucevic, who was acquired by the Bulls in a blockbuster trade last season, has been a key contributor to the team’s success. However, recent reports have suggested that the Bulls may be open to trading Vucevic as they look to shake up their roster.

    Despite the trade talk swirling around him, Vucevic put up an impressive performance against the Raptors, scoring 23 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. His dominant play in the paint helped the Bulls secure a crucial win and improve their playoff positioning.

    As the trade deadline approaches, the Bulls will have to weigh their options carefully when it comes to Vucevic. While his presence on the court is undeniable, the team may need to make some tough decisions in order to bolster their roster for a deep playoff run.

    Regardless of what the future holds for Vucevic, Bulls fans can take solace in the fact that their team is currently playing some of their best basketball of the season. With key players stepping up and making big plays, the Bulls are proving that they are a force to be reckoned with in the Eastern Conference.

    Tags:

    1. NBA trade rumors
    2. Nikola Vucevic trade talk
    3. Chicago Bulls victory
    4. Toronto Raptors defeat
    5. NBA trade deadline
    6. Vucevic trade speculation
    7. Bulls vs Raptors game
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    9. Vucevic trade updates
    10. Vucevic trade rumors

    #Bulls #beat #Raptors #trade #talk #heats #Nikola #Vucevic

  • Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic resigns as anti-corruption protests grow


    BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Serbia’s populist Prime Minister Milos Vucevic said Tuesday he is stepping down following weeks of massive anti-corruption protests over the deadly collapse of a concrete canopy in November.

    The canopy collapse, which killed 15 people in the northern city of Novi Sad, has become a flashpoint reflecting wider discontent with the increasingly autocratic rule of Serbia’s populist President Aleksandar Vucic. He has faced accusations of curbing democratic freedoms in Serbia despite formally seeking European Union membership for the troubled Balkan nation.

    Vucevic told a news conference that his resignation is aimed at lowering tensions in Serbia.

    “It is my appeal for everyone to calm down the passions and return to dialogue,” he said.

    Novi Sad Mayor Milan Djuric also will step down on Tuesday, Vucevic said.

    Vucevic’s resignation is likely to lead to an early parliamentary election. The resignation must be confirmed by Serbia’s parliament, which has 30 days to choose a new government or call a snap election.

    On Monday, tens of thousands of people joined striking university students in a 24-hour blockade of a key traffic intersection in the Serbian capital. The students have been protesting for weeks, demanding accountability for the canopy collapse that critics have blamed on rampant government corruption.

    In another attempt to defuse tensions, Vucic, Vucevic and Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic on Monday evening urged dialogue with the students, who have garnered widespread support from all walks of life in Serbia with their call for justice and accountability.

    Vucevic said the immediate cause for his quitting was an attack on a female student in Novi Sad early Tuesday by assailants allegedly from the ruling Serbian Progressive Party. Vucevic said that “whenever it seems there is hope to return to social dialogue, to talk … it’s like an invisible hand creates a new incident and tensions mount again.”

    Serbia’s prosecutors have filed charges against 13 people, including a government minister and several state officials. But the former Construction Minister Goran Vesic has been released from detention, fueling doubts over the investigation’s independence.

    The main railway station in Novi Sad was renovated twice in recent years as part of a wider infrastructure deal with Chinese state companies.

    Several incidents have marred the street demonstrations in the past weeks, including drivers ramming into the crowds on two occasions, when two young women were injured.

    Students and others have been holding daily 15-minute traffic blockades throughout Serbia at 11:52 a.m., the exact same time the concrete canopy crashed down on Nov. 1. The blockades honor the 15 victims, including two children.





    Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic has announced his resignation amidst growing anti-corruption protests in the country. Vucevic, who has been in office since 2017, cited the need for a new leadership to address the demands of the protesters.

    The protests, which have been ongoing for weeks, have been fueled by allegations of government corruption and a lack of transparency in the political system. Demonstrators have called for Vucevic’s resignation and for a more accountable government.

    In his resignation speech, Vucevic acknowledged the concerns of the protesters and expressed his hope that his resignation would help pave the way for positive change in Serbia. He also called for calm and unity among the people as the country transitions to a new government.

    The resignation of Vucevic marks a significant moment in Serbia’s political landscape and has the potential to bring about much-needed reforms. It remains to be seen who will succeed him as Prime Minister and how they will address the demands of the protesters. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.

    Tags:

    Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic, anti-corruption protests, Serbia news, government resignation, political turmoil in Serbia, Milos Vucevic scandal, Serbian politics, political corruption in Serbia

    #Serbian #Prime #Minister #Milos #Vucevic #resigns #anticorruption #protests #grow

  • Not Expected To Pursue Nikola Vucevic Or Jakob Poeltl


    The NBA trade deadline is getting closer and many continue to watch the Los Angeles Lakers in expectation of any potential moves the team could make. The team has been known to desire adding another big man since before the season started and Anthony Davis’ recent comments only furthered that belief that the Lakers are in the market for a center.

    There have been multiple names mentioned as possibilities and two that would certainly make sense would be Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic and Toronto Raptors big man Jakob Poeltl. Both would be great additions that would fit in well next to Davis on the Lakers, but as the deadline nears, it sounds as if neither will be joining the purple and gold.

    According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Lakers are not expected to pursue either Vucevic or Poeltl as the asking price and salaries for both are too high:

    Yet league sources stressed over the weekend that the Lakers are not expected to join the hunt for either Vučević or Toronto’s Jakob Poeltl … while oft-suggested Lakers target Walter Kessler of the Utah Jazz is believed to as close to unavailable as it gets with less than 10 days to go before the trade deadline on Feb. 6 at 3 PM ET.

    Adding Vučević would be very pricey for the Lakers beyond Chicago’s desire to extract a first-round pick in return; absorbing the $21.5 million owed to Vučević in 2025-26 is daunting financially for a team that projects to have Davis and LeBron James taking up two-thirds of next season’s salary cap and has strained to stay below the second apron this season.

    Poeltl, meanwhile, is a similar case, with a $19.5 million salary looming in both 2025-26 and 2026-27 (player option) and the Raptors believed to be seeking an even richer return than Chicago has sought for Vučević to part with a player many teams believe that Toronto would prefer to keep.

    As Stein noted, the financial implications play a role as taking on that kind of money for future seasons is something the Lakers would prefer not to do as well. But giving up a first-round pick, and perhaps even more in the case of Poeltl, along with the players needed to match salaries, seems to be too much for the Lakers.

    If the Lakers are going to give up those first-round picks in a trade they want it to be a move that will make them a true championship contender. For as good as Vucevic and Poeltl are, it is difficult to argue that acquiring one of them on their own will do that for the Lakers.

    LeBron James: Jarred Vanderbilt ‘didn’t miss a beat’ in Lakers return

    It is unclear whether the Lakers will make a big acquisition before the trade deadline, but the team did welcome back one of its most important role players from injury in defensive ace Jarred Vanderbilt in their win over the Golden State Warriors.

    Vanderbilt only played 12 minutes as he gets his conditioning back, but picked up three steals in that time and LeBron James said the forward ‘didn’t miss a beat’ in his return. LeBron added that the Lakers missed him and were happy to have him back in the lineup.

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