The Chicago Bulls enter the 2025-26 NBA season looking to end their three-year playoff drought.

Of course, the Bulls have built a solid core led by Josh Giddey, Coby White, Nikola Vucevic and Matas Buzelis and they also made some key additions to their roster this offseason.

Chicago began their offseason by selecting Noa Essengue 12th overall in the 2025 draft and they then acquired Isaac Okoro in the trade that sent Lonzo Ball to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

By making these moves, the Bulls will try to end their playoff drought as they look to take advantage of a weakened Eastern Conference this season while also seeing their young players take another step forward.

Pacers Could Target Bulls’ Nikola Vucevic

Despite this, the Bulls could also look to make some moves ahead of the trade deadline and one player who could be on the move is Vucevic.

Of course, Vucevic has been in trade rumors over the past few seasons and while the veteran center has not generated a ton of interest from other teams around the league, that could change this season as he is on an expiring contract.

One team that could show interest in Vucevic this season is the Indiana Pacers as they are in desperate need of center depth after Myles Turner left for the Milwaukee Bucks in free agency.

Mock Trade Sends Nikola Vucevic to Pacers for Obi Toppin, Jarace Walker

In a potential trade, the Bulls could send Vucevic and draft capital to the Pacers in exchange for Obi Toppin and Jarace Walker.

By making this trade, Chicago would swap their veteran big man for two younger players who could paly a key role for them off the bench.

For Toppin, he was a key part of the Pacers’ run to the NBA Finals last season and he would give the Bulls a solid scorer and defender at the forward position.

Last season, the 27-year-old forward averaged 10.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game while shooting 52.9% from the field and 36.5% from three.

Walker would also give the Bulls a solid forward option off the bench along with another key young player they could continue to develop as he could have a larger role in Chicago than he did in Indiana.

Last season, the 22-year-old forward averaged 6.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game while shooting 47.2% from the field and 40.5% from three.

While this trade could work out well for Chicago, the Pacers may be unwilling to move both players to acquire Vucevic due to his contract situation.