MIAMI — Veteran Bulls center Nikola Vucevic usually stays neutral when it comes to questions from reporters about his future or the Bulls’ in general. But being on the bad end of a beatdown in Miami on Sunday — one that saw the Bulls trailing the Heat by as many as 54 points before losing 134-91 — is enough to get anyone to open up more.

Asked after the game about the state of the roster with the trade deadline coming up Thursday, and what the rest of the season might look like if the front office does or doesn’t make a move, Vucevic made it clear the idea of the Bulls (27-24) participating in the play-in tournament for a fourth straight year doesn’t sit well.

“I think there are certain things that this team needs to take the next step, but we’ll see what happens [at the deadline],” Vuce-vic said. “If nothing happens, then it’s on us to try and figure it out and get there. You know, it’s not fun when you’re in the same position year after year, and especially when you can’t get out of that play-in [and] you get stuck behind Miami every time. But, yeah, I think this team does need some things that can definitely help us to go forward, take that next step.”

Any specifics of what that might be?

“Mainly, we need some size and athleticism,” Vucevic said. “We’re pretty undersized at most positions. I think that’s it — that would be the main thing. Because the way the league is right now [where] a lot of teams have these big wings, I think that’s something that can definitely help us if we add some of that. Just the way the game has changed, the way the game has evolved, most teams, their two, three and four are 6-8, 6-9, and we don’t really have that.”

The Sun-Times previously reported that Arturas Karnisovas, the Bulls’ executive vice president of basketball operations, has inquired about Rockets forward Tari Eason (6-8), Pelicans center Yves Missi (6-11) and Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (6-6).

For now, the hope is that 6-11 journeyman forward/center Dario Saric, acquired from the Kings on Sunday as part of a three-team deal, can bring something to the mix.

“I know him pretty well,” Vucevic said. “He’s from the same region [of Europe]. I met him when he came to the NBA [in 2016], but I watched him when he was younger, too. . . .

“He’s a very good guy, knows how to play. He’s a high-IQ player, experienced, been around the playoffs, been around winning teams, so from that standpoint, it will help us a lot and gives us even more size. The injuries have hit the center position, so he can help.”

Zach Collins has been dealing with an injured big toe since late December and still has no estimated return date. Jalen Smith, while productive, also has missed some games because of calf and hamstring issues and a concussion.

The Bulls have embraced a two-big lineup, but lately it has looked more like 1 ½.

“We’ve shown throughout the year that when we’ve played big, it’s been pretty good for us,” Vucevic said. “It’s unfortunate that Zach got hurt because I felt like we had a really good thing going. But hopefully with Dario, we can get him in, try and use some of that big lineup and see where that goes. I think he can fit in really well with the way we want to play.”

Things continue to be fluid as the NBA trade deadline approaches.

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The Bulls were playing their third game against the Heat in four nights, and with the trade deadline looming, their minds seemed to be elsewhere.

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The three-team deal Saturday was more about bookkeeping than improving the roster, but that doesn’t mean Karnisovas and the Bulls are finished. Sources think he will continue trying to be aggressive before the trade deadline Feb. 5.

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