The L.A. Clippers inquired for a potential trade involving Chicago Bulls center Robin Lopez, but “talks did not advance,” according to Jovan Buha of The Athletic.
The Bulls are aggressively looking to deal Lopez, their oldest player in the roster (after passer-by Carmelo Anthony) and one that won't take part in the future core of the team. Chicago dealt swingman Justin Holiday earlier in the year — and can now hope to keep a roster 26 years and younger if they deal the two.
Lopez is a rather odd fit in a team that already boasts two traditional centers in Marcin Gortat and Boban Marjanovic, as the addition of yet another center would likely bump out a striving Montrezl Harrell, who is in the midst of the best stretch of his career under Doc Rivers' offense.
The 7-footer out of Stanford is averaging 5.9 points and 2.9 rebounds in 16.6 minutes per game and would likely not garner that much more playing time if traded to the Clippers.
Lopez has had strong links to the Golden State Warriors in the past, as their frontlines were previously weakened with the loss of Damian Jones for the remainder of the season. However, the Warriors were interested in a buyout situation, which the Bulls were clear they had no intentions of doing.
Chicago now has less than two weeks to move his expiring $14.4 million contract, but if the Bulls can't trade him by the Feb. 7 deadline, they'll be sure to let him walk in the upcoming offseason.
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