Knicks Trade Rumors: Rounding up the latest buzz as of Dec. 19

Rumor Chicago Bulls Shopping Robin Lopez, Nikola Mirotic

The Chicago Bulls have won six consecutive games, but at 9-20, the postseason is more of a pipe dream than a currently realistic goal. Thus, it comes as no surprise that the Bulls are testing the market for two of their most coveted veterans.

According to K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune, the Bulls have inquired about the trade value of forward Nikola Mirotic and center Robin Lopez.

"According to one Eastern Conference executive and one Western Conference executive, the Bulls have made preliminary inquiries on Mirotic’s value, along with Robin Lopez’s. The Bulls, who are under the salary-cap floor, are seeking to add future assets in terms of draft picks without taking on long-term contracts."

The Bulls are attempting to clear cap room and acquire draft picks, which makes it none too surprising that they’re shopping the two players with the most short-term value.

Lopez, who played for the New York Knicks in 2015-16, is one of the better two-way centers in the NBA. Nothing he does is flashy, but he’s a team-first player who excels in the post, boxes out for his teammates to grab rebounds, and holds his own as a rim protector.

For a contending team that wants a cost-efficient big man, Lopez would make sense with just one year and $14,357,750 remaining on his contract after 2017-18.

As for Mirotic, he’s been the driving force behind the Bulls’ six-game winning streak. During that time, he’s averaged 20.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.0 three-point field goals made per game—numbers that reflect what many expected him to do during his first two NBA seasons.

If a team is looking for a floor-spacing power forward who can put the ball on the hardwood, then Mirotic could be the cost-efficient answer on what’s essentially a one-year, $12.5 million deal.