How a conversation with Billy Donovan helped Nikola Vucevic buy back in after the trade deadline

Nikola Vucevic knew there was a chance he could be traded.
By the time the Chicago Bulls pulled the trigger on a long-awaited Zach LaVine deal, it felt like a roster overhaul could happen at any point. At eight games below .50o on deadline day, with rumors swirling about interest from the Golden State Warriors and other teams, the Bulls were in no position to make an earnest postseason run.
Their most talented player was out the door in exchange for a draft pick and what seemed to be salary filler (though that has been proven untrue). DeMar DeRozan was gone. Alex Caruso was gone. The group he came in with to make a real run had phased out.
It made all the sense in the world for Vucevic to...