The NBA trade deadline is still almost two months away, but the Bulls have started doing their homework on the market. According to K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune, who cites one team executive from each conference, the Bulls have made “preliminary inquiries” to assess the trade value of veteran bigs Nikola Mirotic and Robin Lopez.
Despite their three-game winning streak, which includes a win over the conference-leading Celtics, the Bulls are still just 6-20, tied for the NBA’s worst record. As such, the club is expected to be a seller at the February 8 trade deadline, making Mirotic and Lopez logical trade candidates.
Lopez and Mirotic are the Bulls’ highest-paid players, though neither contract is onerous. Lopez is earning $13.79MM this season and has one more guaranteed year worth $14.36MM. Mirotic has a $12.5MM cap hit for this season and a $12.5MM team option for 2018/19, meaning Chicago could lose him for nothing in unrestricted free agency in July.
Of course, while Lopez’s contract situation and age (29) are enough to make him a trade candidate, there are a few other factors at play in Mirotic’s case. The 26-year-old missed the start of the 2017/18 season after suffering a concussion and facial fractures as a result of a Bobby Portis punch, and while the two power forwards appear to be coexisting now, Mirotic reportedly wouldn’t mind being moved.
With nearly 100 players set to become trade-eligible later this week, trade discussions around the NBA may start to heat up soon. However, most teams won’t finalize any deals until closer to the deadline. If the Bulls decide to move Mirotic, they’ll have no choice but to wait — his trade restrictions don’t lift until January 15.
Maybe a possible salary dump for the Hornets? Send Marvin Williams and 2 second round picks to Chicago for Mirotic.
Charlotte dumps salary and the Bills acquire draft capital
Hahahahaha
Mid 2nd round picks are basically worthless. Once in awhile someone hits but it is like a 3-4% chance. Not equivalent value at all for maybe a top 10 offensive centers in the league. Or even for a role player like Mirotic.
Who is this top 10 offensive center you speak of?
Buffalo needs that NBA draft capital.
As a Bulls fan, I hate seeing Lopez in trade discussions. He’s like the only real center we’ve ever had that is not useless 5 feet from the basket. Shooting 7 footers don’t grow on trees. I especially hate it because they have $50 mil in cap room and next year they could get Parker and another shooter and could be contenders, depending on Dunn and Markkanen’s growth this year.
Bill Wennington strongly disagrees with your second sentence.
I was pretty young when I last saw Wennington play so I do not remember him that well but I did not really remember him as a jump shooter. Either way, I’ll correct my statement to say “the only real center *this millennium*”
Completely agree. I know Lopez is as good as gone — at the trade deadline —but he has truly been a joy to have on the team, and to actually get to watch a legitimate center play in Chicago.
Wish they could keep him, but by the time they’re really good, his age and health won’t be in his favor.
Parker is a RFA and is not going anywhere unless it’s by trade, and the Bulls have nothing to offer at that price point.