Chicago Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic became eligible to be traded on Monday.Since making his season debut on December 8, the 6’10” Yugoslavian has averaged a career-high 17.3 points and career-high 6.9 rebounds per contest while also posting career-highs in field goal percentage (48.4) and three-point percentage (46.4).Chicago went an NBA-worst 3-20 to start the year without him and have gone 14-7 since, benefitting from the veteran’s scoring ability off the bench.But, the Bulls are rebuilding and structured Mirotic’s deal particularly to make it easy for him to be traded. He’s making $12.5 million this season and Chicago holds a $12.5 million team option for next season. In today’s market, that’s a discount for a player of his offensive abilities and versatility.On Monday, Mirotic confirmed that his agents are working with the Bulls’ front office in pursuit of a trade.“I didn’t talk to [the Bulls’ front office recently],” he said, per Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times. “Probably my agents are talking, so I don’t know so far what’s going on, but I know my name is going to be out there. I’m doing my job, and I’m sure they’re doing their job, and we’re both going to do what’s best for the team.”Although Chicago most likely won’t accept the first offer for Mirotic that they’re offered, it seems more likely than not that he will be dealt ahead of the February 8 deadline.Therefore, let’s explore three possible destinations for him.

Utah Jazz

The Jazz have been the presumed frontrunner to land Mirotic. Nearly a week ago, Tony Jones of the Salt Lake Tribune reported that Utah was in talks to acquire him.

“The Salt Lake Tribune has confirmed that Utah is engaged in talks with the Chicago Bulls on a deal that would bring power forward Nikola Mirotic to Utah. Jazz forward Derrick Favors has been discussed as a potential piece that would go to Chicago, according to multiple sources,” Jones wrote at the time.

Jones also reported that the Bulls were asking for Utah’s first round pick as compensation for Mirotic, as did K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune:

Whether or not the Jazz could part with the first-round selection is a whole different question, but what’s clear is that Mirotic would be a much-needed addition to a depleted roster in need of offensive firepower.

Utah is 17-26 and is in 10th place in the West. However, they’re just 5.0 games out of eighth place and will most likely have their best player Rudy Gobert back soon. Since Ricky Rubio has been wildly inconsistent, Derrick Favors is not a volume scorer and everyone not named Donovan Mitchell hasn’t provided any real consistency on the offensive end, Mirotic would presumably step into a huge offensive role on a rare defensive-minded club.

Further, the Jazz just lost Thabo Sefolosha for the season due to a knee injury. Joe Ingles, Rodney Hood, Alec Burks and Joe Johnson have been tasked to take on additional minutes on the wing, but that’s not an optimal situation, especially on the offensive end where all three are inconsistent. Alongside Mitchell, Mirotic would likely join Rubio, Favors and Gobert in what would be a much more dangerous starting five.

To add, Mirotic wants to play in Utah.

“The Bulls are still planning to trade forward Nikola Mirotic, which can't happen until Jan. 15 or without his permission, based on his contract. Mirotic has been intrigued with the Utah Jazz, whose coach, Quin Snyder, has a reputation for maximizing offensive talent,” ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski wrote recently.

The Jazz need to do something quickly before they continue to slide. If they decide to trust their current group to turn things around, they face a very real risk of missing the playoffs. Losing a mid first-round pick could hurt, but Mirotic could vault them upwards in the standings if they decide to buy rather than sell. 

San Antonio Spurs

Although the Jazz seem like the clear choice to land Mirotic, don’t count out the Spurs.

At 29-16, the Spurs are in fourth place in the Western Conference standings behind the Golden State Warriors (36-9), Houston Rockets (30-12) and Minnesota Timberwolves (29-16). Although head coach Gregg Popovich has proved that he can win with pretty much anyone on his roster, it’s safe to say that the aging group that he currently has will have some trouble stacking up against the three teams in front of him and perhaps others below them (like the Oklahoma City Thunder).

While Kawhi Leonard’s lingering injuries have certainly contributed to San Antonio’s below-standard start to the season, the team has not received consistent production from anyone other than LaMarcus Aldridge. In fact, Aldridge (averaging 22.4 points per game), Leonard (16.2), Rudy Gay (11.5) and Pau Gasol (10.5) are the only players to average double-figures in the scoring column this year.

Gay has also been hobbled with a heel injury recently and has missed the last two weeks of play.

Popovich’s second unit has varied among a mix of veteran and young players: Gay, Manu Ginobili, Patty Mills, Bryn Forbes, Dejounte Murray, Davis Bertens and Brandon Paul. Therefore, the coach hasn’t received much consistent production from the bunch. Mirotic would be a natural fit to lead that group.

Although the financial aspect of the trade might be tricky due to the salaries of certain Spurs players, the Spurs would almost undoubtedly be willing to offer their first-round pick for Mirotic, which is exactly what Chicago is looking for. It will likely be a low first-round selection, but since the Bulls are rebuilding, the pick could still be very useful.

Portland Trail Blazers

The Trail Blazers are 22-21 and have the same exact record as the Denver Nuggets and the Los Angeles Clippers, as all three of which are fighting for position among the seven, eight and nine seeds in the West.

In order to surpass their two counterpats and leapfrog the New Orleans Pelicans (22-20) and Oklahoma City Thunder (24-20), the Blazers will assuredly need to make some kind of move to improve their roster before the deadline.

While the threesome of Damian Lillard, C.J. McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic is formidable, their supporting cast simply cannot be trusted, especially at small forward and power forward. Mirotic happens to play both of those positions at a high level.

Coach Terry Stotts has trotted out combinations of Al-Farouq Aminu, Evan Turner, Maurice Harkless and Jake Layman at the three and Meyers Leonard, Ed Davis, Zach Collins, Noah Vonleh, Caleb Swanigan at the four this year.

Adding Mirotic to the Blazers would be a massive move, particularly on the second unit, where the team has consistently struggled to generate offense, often times relying on McCollum to be the primary ball-handler and scorer. Perhaps most importantly, the Blazers have a 2018 first-round pick as well as a number of young players who Chicago may be interested in acquiring.

Although a player like Aminu might have to be included in the deal to make it work financially, offering Vonleh, Collins or Swanigan in addition to the first-rounder would likely make Portland's offer stand out above the Jazz and Spurs.

Although there's a realistic possibility that Mirotic could stay in Chicago, all signs are pointing towards his departure. If he leaves, one of the three clubs above would be a perfect fit for his services.