There's reason for the Memphis Grizzlies to be optimistic about Zach Edey. Jay Huff has turned out to be one of this past summer's best bargain acquisitions. And even after an Achilles repair, Brandon Clarke is still one of the league's better reserve hustle bigs.

But none of the above are quite as well-suited to start as 34-year-old Nikola Vučević, who's playing as well as he has in half a decade.

Just over a quarter of the way into the season, the two-time All-Star is putting up 21.0 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.2 threes in 31.7 minutes, while shooting 47.4 percent from deep. He can check a lot of the same boxes Steven Adams did (like rebounding and allowing Jaren Jackson Jr. to roam as a shot-blocker), while also spacing the floor.

Lineups with him and JJJ could force opponents to keep all their big bodies outside the paint, making easily exploitable driving lanes for Ja Morant.

Vučević's passing would also open up possibilities for everyone that Edey, Huff and Clarke simply won't.

Giving up a first-round pick for a mid-30s center who's often struggled to defend may seem like a lot, but Memphis is uniquely situated to offer (and the pick is protected). The Grizzlies are closer to title contention than some realize, and Vučević is the kind of player who could put them over the top.

For the Bulls, this is another deal that speeds up the rebuild. It gives them some draft capital (the trade could also include some second-round picks, in the event that the first doesn't convey) and the movable contracts of Clarke and John Konchar.

Perhaps most importantly, it would make Chicago worse in the short term (thus, improving its 2025 lottery odds) and open up more playing time for rookie Matas Buzelis.