The Bulls and center Robin Lopez are expected to soon engage in discussions on a potential contract buyout, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Malika Andrews (Twitter link).
Chicago made deals to acquire Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot and Otto Porter this past week, trading away the likes of Jabari Parker, Bobby Portis and two second-round draft picks. The team explored trading Lopez as the deadline approached, but failed to find a suitable deal for the big man.
“I’m going to be asleep at 2 o’clock,” Lopez said Wednesday, fully knowing he could be traded by the deadline. “What time’s the plane? I pass out right away when I get on the plane, so I might be asleep. Hopefully they don’t have to carry me off the plane.”
Lopez, 30, has made stops with Phoenix, New Orleans, Portland, New York and Chicago so far in his 11-year NBA career, establishing himself as a physical force on both ends of the floor. The Bulls originally acquired him in a 2016 trade with the Knicks.
The Warriors were expected to be Lopez’s next destination if the team reached a buyout agreement with him last month, according to Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes. It’s unclear if this has changed, with veteran centers Marcin Gortat and Enes Kanter now also available on the free agent market.
Eleven years?
WOW!
Going to play with his bro and come off the bench for the Bucks?
But he’s such a leader in the locker roooooom! Fart.
Enes Kanter doesn’t seem like that great an idea. Too much anger and controversy, regarding Durant, and his antagonistic attitude toward him. Lopez seems like has the character that would fit with the Dubs, along with intelligence and b’ball skills, of course.