Nikola Vucevic may stay in Chicago through trade deadline?

According to multiple sources, Karnisovas had two deals for center Nikola Vucevic fall apart Tuesday, forcing the front office into a complete reset that might result in Vucevic staying with the Bulls for the rest of the season, then being shopped during the summer. One of the sources stressed the situation remained fluid. But as of game time Tuesday against the Heat, there was no momentum for a deal to be done and no new talks with another team.
Source: Chicago Sun-Times What’s the buzz on Twitter? Joe Cowley @JCowleyHoops
The Bulls rebuild hit a snag on Tuesday, as multiple sources indicated that two separate Nikola Vucevic trades fell apart. He could stay a Bull as the Thursday trade deadline approaches, but several players might not …
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chicago.suntimes.com/bulls/2025/02/… – 9:17 PM

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Joel Embiid triple-double helps Sixers squeak by Mavericks

Derek Bodner: Final: Sixers come back for a 118-116 win over the Mavs, led by a 33 point, 13 assist performance from Tyrese Maxey and a 29/11/10 triple double in Joel Embiid’s return. The Sixers improve to 20-29 with the win, and will take on the Miami Heat tomorrow night.
Source: Twitter @DerekBodnerNBA What’s the buzz on Twitter? Duvalier Johnson @DuvalierJohnson
Embiid saw an organization trade a Top 5 player in the league in Luka for being out of shape and unavailable and his ass got back out there and played 36 minutes with a triple double. pic.x.com/cyIGrNbMaq – 9:51 PM Derek Bodner @DerekBodnerNBA
Nick Nurse says that Joel Embiid will not play in tomorrow’s game against the Miami Heat, the second half of a back-to-back. – 9:39 PM

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Rams Willing To Eat Money In Kupp Trade

In their search for a Cooper Kupp trade partner, the Rams are willing to eat some of the money remaining on the star wide receiver’s contract, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

Kupp is set to earn $20MM in 2025, made up of $12.5MM in base salary and a $7.5MM 90-man roster bonus due on March 17, per ProFootballTalk and OverTheCap. $5MM of that roster bonus became fully-guaranteed in 2024.

A pre-June 1 trade would already require the Rams to absorb the remaining prorations of Kupp’s signing bonus as a $17.26MM dead cap hit in 2025. That would allow them to pursue other needs in free agency with additional capital in this year’s draft.

Waiting until after June 1 would allow the Rams to push $7.48MM of dead money to 2026, but they would then also be responsible for Kupp’s 2025 roster bonus, essentially making the deferment a wash. The delay would also cost them 2025 draft capital in addition to the opportunity to sign top free agents in March.

Accordingly, the Rams would rather get a trade done before the new league year starts, explaining their willingness to eat even more of Kupp’s contract. That will help firm up a market for Kupp, who is expected to have suitors due to his pedigree as a tough, savvy, and versatile playmaker. If the Rams can alleviate the financial burden of acquiring the 31-year-old, his age and recent injuries would be his only remaining concerns.

Kupp’s skillset would make him a fit in almost any NFL offense, but certain teams will make more sense than others. Among them, according to Fowler, are the Steelers, the Commanders, and the Patriots. Pittsburgh were interested at the 2024 trade deadline, while Washington and New England both have plenty of cap space and young passers that would benefit from an experienced, quarterback-friendly receiver like Kupp. The Lions also have enough cap room to absorb his contract as well as Kupp’s former teammate, Jared Goff, under center.