The Golden State Warriors ended up being the side that finally concluded the two-month-long Jimmy Butler saga. Just minutes before their game against the Utah Jazz, they finalized a deal for the veteran forward. It left many sad faces in the locker room as Andrew Wiggins, Dennis Schroder, and other Warriors stalwarts got cut in the deal. However, it may not be the end just yet.

One move doesn’t set the Bay apart. With Butler, they do have a riveting postseason performer who can win games for them. But there is still the need for a perfect squad. Since the team has gone against the grain to make a splashy trade, it seems Mike Dunleavy might push for the extremes.

When the Butler rumors dimmed, the Warriors were heavily linked with the Chicago Bulls. Notably, they seemed to have interest in Nikola Vucevic, the Bulls’ stretch five. Until now, though, the franchise had remained quiet. But with the acquisition of Butler, their strategy could soon change.

According to Ray Almeda, Chicago has fixed a price for Vucevic that is well within the range for the Bay. He claims “a package of “GP2, Looney and a couple second round picks” would be something the team would “take for Vucevic”. The Bulls did recently trade away Zach Lavine, indicating the franchise possibly shifting toward a rebuild.

Hence, they could accept a reasonable deal for a $20 million center, especially considering it comes with draft compensation. As for the Warriors, this deal could provide them with great benefits.

The Warriors may need Nikola Vucevic to form a complete squad

To begin the season, the Warriors found strength in their depth. But since then, the trajectory of their season has taken a different course. In the difficulty of finding a renowned scorer besides Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler does fit the mold. However, his archetype itself isn’t that of the Warriors’ fabric.

Butler is a notorious performer under high pressure but is not known for his three-point shot. Furthermore, losing Andrew Wiggins has hurt the Bay’s three-point shooting prowess, taking into account his 37.9% shooting. Here’s where Nikola Vucevic can help repair those cracks.

The modern-day center has an offensive package that heavily favors the Warriors. He is well versed at playing in the post as he rose to All-Star status doing so for the Orlando Magic. And since moving to the Bulls, his three-point shooting has dramatically improved. This year, he is shooting 40.1% from distance. That would only trail Gui Santos on the current Warriors team.

Additionally, it gives the Warriors a different dynamic within their roster. For the first time in a while, they could have a scoring center. At the same time, Vuc can set hard screens for the shooters to navigate into open spots, replicating Looney’s impact who could possibly be part of the deal. Yes, it will come at the cost of two pivotal role players. However, at this point in the season, a surge as such might be the best option for the Warriors to recover.

Do you see this to be a needed signing for the Golden State Warriors? Let us know your views in the comments below.