1. Robin Lopez
When the Bulls drafted Wendell Carter, it became all but certain that Robin Lopez would be moved in the near future. With an expiring $14 million contract, the journeyman center is the most obvious candidate to be dealt during the 2018-19 season.
In 2017-18, Lopez averaged 11.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Despite not being a 3-point threat, Lopez could be a valuable addition to any contender’s bench. He possesses a strong locker room presence, displays a ton of energy on the court and is still an efficient offensive threat around the rim, shooting 68 percent at the rim last season for Chicago.
For a team still looking to add pieces, Lopez would mostly attract a second round pick. The Bulls could potentially take on a combination of a “bad contract” and a first round pick in order to move Lopez.
Chicago has a developing roster with a ton of young talent. While many fans are hoping for a playoff push, it best suits the franchise to continue developing the younger players.
While he’s young and talented, it doesn’t appear likely that Portis will ever gain starter minutes in Chicago. It’s uncertain what type of market could exist for Portis as a restricted free agent, but if there’s a chance the Bulls wouldn’t match an offer he receives, GarPax should move him.
Holiday and Lopez are valuable veteran voices on a young team. However, any playing time they receive will be stunting the growth of the younger guys. Moving these three players will benefit the development of the Chicago Bulls in the long run.