Nikola Mirotic (Photo : Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
The NBA trade rumors commence and one team that is unlikely to stay put is the Chicago Bulls.
The only question with regards to the Bulls is making a trade is whether it will be at the deadline or in the summer. Given that they're in the running for a playoff spot, a boost in any way would be best.
Nikola Mirotic is a player that seems like a catalyst for the Chicago Bulls in general. He is not like Rajon Rondo who seems to have made a trade a necessity. But if you ask the Bulls management if he fits with the future of the team, there is a degree of uncertainty.
At a time when even Jimmy Butler does not have job security, trading Mirotic for the right price would not be too difficult. While it is not sure whether the Bulls are actively shopping him, some teams have shown interest. According to Sports Illustrated blog Pippen Ain't Easy, the LA Clippers have shown interest in the small forward.
"During the Chicago Bulls march to inevitable 17th straight win when playing a game televised by TNT, a random little blurb crept through the Twitter timeline, going almost entirely unnoticed: the Los Angeles Clippers are rumored to be interested in acquiring Nikola Mirotic," wrote Daniel Coughlin.
While the rumor has not been substantiated further and Coughlin also attested that he was not aware of the source, it is logical enough for the Clippers to take interest since the small forward position is their hole. At the same time, right atop the Western Conference standings (and the NBA standing in general) lie the Spurs and Warriors with two of the best at the position (Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant).
The Clippers do not have much trade assets or draft picks. They can offer Jamal Crawford or Austin Rivers, and if the Bulls would offer more (like Doug McDermott) they can get a shot at JJ Redick.
Those are just some trades the Bulls could explore from this tidbit of news. Chicago's front office has been given the "mandate to rebuild" according to a Chicago Tribune report. Given that the team has been on a plateau for the past couple of years, it's probably time to exercise that.
