Bulls’ window closing fast to move expendable veteran for value

Indiana Pacers v Chicago Bulls | Jeff Haynes/GettyImagesThe Nikola Vu\u010devi\u0107 trade discourse feels like a never-ending cycle. It builds at the start of the season, only to fade as the trade deadline approaches. That rise-and-fall pattern is synonymous with Vu\u010devi\u0107’s play as well. For the second straight season, the 35-year-old center started hot before cooling off quickly.

Last season, Vu\u010devi\u0107 averaged 20.0 points and 10.0 rebounds while shooting 42.3 percent from beyond the arc in December. By January, the 6-foot-10 big man saw his scoring dip to 18.4 points per game and his three-point percentage plummet to 26.8 percent. It didn’t get any better from there, as…