Los Angeles Lakers Monitoring Nikola Vucevic Buyout from Bulls to Potentially Bolster Frontcourt Depth Behind Ayton with Elite Versatility
The Los Angeles Lakers are quietly positioning themselves to pounce should a buyout materialize involving Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic. According to ClutchPoints’ Anthony Irwin, the Lakers are keeping a close watch on the veteran big man’s situation, indicating strong internal interest in bringing him aboard if he becomes available. It’s not a surprise considering Vucevic’s consistently high-level production and the strategic advantage he could offer the Lakers’ roster construction heading into the 2025-26 NBA season.
Vucevic, who averaged 18.5 points and 10.1 rebounds per game last season while shooting over 40% from three-point range, remains one of the league’s most versatile and skilled centers. His offensive toolkit is deep: a reliable post game, pick-and-pop prowess, high basketball IQ, and shooting touch that extends beyond the arc. Those qualities make him a valuable asset in today’s NBA, where floor spacing and two-way versatility are critical. While he’s not known as a defensive anchor, his rebounding and positional intelligence still allow him to contribute meaningfully on both ends of the court.
For the Lakers, Vucevic’s potential arrival would be about more than just adding another body to the frontcourt. It would be about depth, optionality, and postseason insurance. Deandre Ayton, acquired in the offseason and now firmly the Lakers’ starting center, brings length, mobility, and defensive upside. But he also has a history of inconsistency and occasional injury concerns. In such a context, Vucevic provides elite insurance — a starting-caliber big who can lead second units, take offensive pressure off the starters, and even step in to close games when needed. His ability to initiate offense from the high post or stretch the defense with outside shooting makes him more than just a traditional big man; he’s a floor-spacer who can operate as a third or even fourth scoring option.
The Lakers have long valued versatility in their roster construction, especially under the current leadership of head coach Darvin Ham and the influence of LeBron James. Vucevic would fit seamlessly into a system that demands players to adapt to multiple roles and function fluidly in pick-and-rolls and transition. With LeBron still playing at a high level and Anthony Davis continuing to anchor the defensive side of the floor, inserting Vucevic into the mix would allow the Lakers to experiment with different frontcourt configurations. There’s even a possibility that he could share the floor with Ayton in what could be termed a “jumbo lineup.” Such a lineup, featuring two seven-footers with rebounding dominance and scoring ability, could wreak havoc on opposing teams, especially against smaller units.
The timing of this interest is key. The NBA landscape is evolving quickly as teams jockey for playoff positioning and strategic roster upgrades during the season. Buyout season, typically post-All-Star break, has become a critical window for contenders to load up without giving up assets. While the Bulls haven’t publicly indicated that they’re moving toward a buyout with Vucevic, there have been murmurs of a potential rebuild or retooling in Chicago. If the Bulls decide to move in that direction and Vucevic agrees to a buyout, the Lakers could emerge as a front-runner to land his services.
Another factor that may tilt the scales in Los Angeles’ favor is the opportunity for Vucevic to play with elite-level stars on a championship-contending team. With LeBron James still producing MVP-level performances and Luka Doncic now part of the equation following a blockbuster trade that sent him to LA earlier this summer, the allure of playing alongside two generational talents could be too enticing for Vucevic to ignore. The chance to chase a championship ring while contributing meaningful minutes could be the ideal scenario for a veteran big man in the later stages of his career.
From a locker room perspective, Vucevic is known as a consummate professional. He has consistently earned praise for his work ethic, quiet leadership, and team-first mentality — qualities that resonate strongly within the Lakers’ culture. The organization has emphasized chemistry and veteran presence in recent seasons, and Vucevic fits the mold of the kind of player who enhances both the team’s on-court performance and off-court dynamics. Adding a high-character veteran with playoff experience and a versatile skill set would be in line with how the Lakers have typically constructed rosters around LeBron James.
Financially, any move involving Vucevic would hinge on a buyout scenario. The Lakers, currently operating near the cap, would likely need to utilize a veteran minimum or taxpayer mid-level exception to sign him. That makes the buyout critical. But if he hits the open market, Los Angeles would have a compelling pitch: a defined role on a contender, the chance to play big minutes in high-stakes games, and the opportunity to showcase his talents on one of the league’s biggest stages. It’s worth noting that LeBron has often been a major draw for veteran players looking to make deep playoff runs, and his presence in LA remains a powerful recruiting tool.
In terms of on-court fit, Vucevic could help solve some of the issues that have plagued the Lakers in past seasons. Floor spacing has often been inconsistent, particularly when LeBron and AD are on the court together. Adding a big who can hit threes at a 40% clip dramatically changes how opposing defenses must guard LA. It opens lanes for LeBron’s drives, provides outlets for Luka’s court vision, and creates second-chance opportunities through Vucevic’s rebounding acumen.
There’s also a strategic benefit in the playoffs. Matchups often dictate rotations in the postseason, and having multiple big men with different skill sets gives Ham a valuable toolbox. Against teams with mobile stretch bigs, Ayton’s defensive mobility may be the answer. Against bruising traditional centers or smaller lineups that need to be punished inside, Vucevic’s post scoring and rebounding could prove vital. The optionality cannot be overstated — and it’s something the Lakers have learned the hard way in recent playoff exits, where the lack of a backup plan has proven costly.
From Vucevic’s perspective, the move could represent a perfect blend of opportunity and ambition. After years of producing at a high level in Orlando and then Chicago without real championship contention, joining a team with legitimate title hopes could reignite his competitive fire. His role in LA would likely be more specialized and perhaps less statistically eye-catching, but the potential for meaningful games deep into May and June would offer an appeal that numbers alone can’t match.
It’s also not hard to imagine the synergy between Vucevic’s game and the playmaking of Luka Doncic. Doncic thrives with pick-and-pop bigs and excels at finding shooters and cutters from all angles. Vucevic’s ability to pop to the perimeter, hit midrange shots, or pass from the high post would complement Luka’s game beautifully. The same could be said for LeBron, who has long leveraged smart bigs to run high pick-and-rolls and exploit mismatches. Adding Vucevic would be like plugging in another chess piece for two of the league’s best strategists on the court.
For now, everything hinges on whether the Bulls decide to part ways with their starting center. If they do, expect the Lakers to act swiftly. The front office, led by Rob Pelinka, has shown in recent years that it understands the margins of contention — that sometimes it’s the moves made in February and March that determine what happens in May and June. Vucevic may not be a headline-grabbing addition like Luka or Ayton, but he could be the kind of acquisition that tilts a playoff series or swings a Game 6 in LA’s favor.
In a Western Conference loaded with star power and depth, every edge matters. And for the Lakers, adding a player like Nikola Vucevic could be the subtle yet decisive move that pushes them from contender to favorite. His buyout is far from guaranteed, but the interest from LA is real. And should the opportunity arise, the union between Vucevic and the Lakers could prove to be one of the most impactful late-season moves of the year.
