Chicago Bulls Exploring Trade Market

The Chicago Bulls are exploring the trade market in search of a first-round draft pick in exchange for either center Robin Lopez or forward Doug McDermott, league sources told Basketball Insiders.

Chicago has its own 2017 first-round pick and is also owed Sacramento’s 2017 first-round pick. However, Sacramento’s pick is top-10 protected. Chicago is currently tied for the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference standings with the Detroit Pistons with a 26-29 record.

Lopez, 28, was acquired by the Bulls in the offseason along with Jerian Grant and Jose Calderon in exchange for Derrick Rose, Justin Holiday and a 2017 second round draft pick going to the New York Knicks.

Lopez is averaging 9.8 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 28.1 minutes per game for the Bulls. Lopez is owed $28.2 million over the next two seasons.

McDermott, 25, was selected 11th overall by Chicago in 2014. McDermott has proven to be a capable bench scorer averaging 9.9 points per game this season while shooting 40 percent from beyond the arc in his career.

McDermott is owed $3.3 million next season and then has a $4.5 million qualifying offer for the following season when he can become a restricted free agent.

Chicago remains interested in acquiring Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor. It’s unclear at this time if exploring the trade market for a first-round pick in exchange for either Lopez or McDermott is related to the Okafor trade talks.

The NBA Trade deadline is February 23 at 3:00 p.m. EST.