NBA Trade News: Chicago Bulls struggling to move Nikola Mirotic, Rajon Rondo

The Chicago Bulls (22-23) are exploring trade opportunities for veteran point guard Rajon Rondo and third-year forward Nikola Mirotic ahead of the Feb. 23 deadline, per several reports.

The Bulls, currently the eighth seed in the East, are still in the running for a postseason berth but have had an up-and-down season despite the offseason additions of Dwyane Wade, Rondo, Robin Lopez and rookie Denzel Valentine, besides trading for young point guards Michael Carter-Williams and Jerian Grant. According to insiders close to the organisation, none of the players, not even All-Star Jimmy Butler, is on "the untouchables list" as the team looks to hit the reset button after a string of disappointing seasons.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the Bulls front office has been actively shopping Rondo and Mirotic but hasn't received much interest in either player. "Obviously, you knew that would be the case with Rondo. But (the Chicago Bulls) don't like what they're hearing back on (Mirotic), either. Then again, that's a (front office) that tends to overvalue its assets," Bulls beat writer Joe Cowley reported earlier this week.

NBA Trade News: Nikola Mirotic failing to generate interest

Mirotic, originally drafted in 2011, has seen a steady decline in his production since last season, averaging fewer points, rebounds, assists and minutes. After starting 38 out of 66 games last season, the stretch-4 power forward has featured in the first unit only twice this season for coach Fred Hoiberg. The report also added that several general managers are sceptical to trade for the Spaniard due to his reputation for being injury-prone.

"Mirotic, meanwhile, never has lived up to the hype that preceded him. And while the Bulls need his outside shooting, as inconsistent as it is, his defence is lacking. The bottom line on Mirotic is that he doesn’t affect games consistently enough. Through Saturday, he was the 30th-ranked power forward in the league in real plus/minus this season," the report noted on Mirotic, who is averaging 9.3 points and 5.5 rebounds in his third NBA season.

Rondo, a 11-year veteran, has become an afterthought in Coach Hoiberg's offense. In the month of January, the former NBA champion has averaged just 19.7 minutes for his 4.0 points and 5.1 assists. Since Rajon Rondo is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, it's a foregone conclusion that the floor general will be out of Chicago. Stay tuned for the latest NBA Trade News.