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NBA Trade Deadline 2019: 5 post-deadline buyout candidates

By Cody Williams

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 30: Enes Kanter #00 of the New York Knicks directs his teammates in the third quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at Madison Square Garden on January 30, 2019 in New York City.NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 30: Enes Kanter #00 of the New York Knicks directs his teammates in the third quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at Madison Square Garden on January 30, 2019 in New York City.NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – FEBRUARY 06: Robin Lopez #42 of the Chicago Bulls reacts after scoring against the New Orleans Pelicans at United Center on February 06, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – FEBRUARY 06: Robin Lopez #42 of the Chicago Bulls reacts after scoring against the New Orleans Pelicans at United Center on February 06, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /

3. Robin Lopez, C, Chicago Bulls

Robin Lopez joined the Chicago Bulls in July 2016 ahead of the 2016-17, sent to the Windy City by way of the New York Knicks in the Derrick Rose trade. Over the last two seasons, Lopez has been solid as the starting center for the Bulls, being a veteran presence on what is, unabashedly, a pretty bad team that is working on a rebuild more than they are winning games at this point.

This season, however, Lopez has been forced to take a backseat in the Bulls frontcourt rotation. After playing 28 and 26.4 minutes per game, respectively, in the past two seasons and starting all 145 games he played, he’s started just eight of 46 this season and has played just 17.1 minutes per contest. Obviously, his production has declined as a result of that, even on a per 100-possession basis.

Thus, the notion has been that Lopez wants to be bought out of his $14.3 million contract so that he can sign elsewhere, perhaps on a contender where he can play meaningful minutes on a better team, even if his role his similarly small. Per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Bulls and Lopez are indeed going to discuss a buyout. However, Bulls executive vice president John Paxson, per K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune, stated that he expects Lopez to remain with Chicago.

With all of that, it’s hard to say whether or not Lopez will actually be released, but it’s at least in the cards. While he’s far from being a star, the veteran big man could be a strong rotational frontcourt piece for a team looking for a playoff push.

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