Nikola Vucevic is at the end of his four-year, $100 million contract the Bulls picked up when they traded Wendell Carter, Otto Porter Jr., and two first-round picks to the Orlando Magic at the 2021 trade deadline to acquire him. 

The Bulls are at a crucial point in their organizational timeline, as their starting big man could be on the move. To what degree would a Vucevic departure hurt them? The Bulls finished two games under .500 and the playoffs by way of losing their final play-in game to the Miami Heat. 

Vucevic, despite some inconsistencies on both sides of the ball, is a rather important asset for the Bulls. If you've watched any Bulls games on NBC Sports Chicago this season, you know how much Stacey King and the pre/postgame crew preach running the offense through Vucevic in the paint. That's not for no reason. 

When asked about his perspective on his upcoming free agency, he answered candidly about his time spent with the Bulls thus far and the possibility of him staying in Chicago. 

"It’s obviously hard to talk about it now. For me, the Bulls will have priority," Vucevic said. "I would like to stay here. But that’s on the front office to decide and work with my agent on the contract part. And also I’ll talk to them about their vision and plan and things like that. That’s as much as I can say."