The Chicago Bulls weren't expected to compete this year, especially after trading star forward Jimmy Butler to the Minnesota Timberwolves on the night of the NBA Draft.

Chicago also lost Rajon Rondo, Dwyane Wade and Taj Gibson this offseason, basically cleaning house in order to try to tank this season.

However, there are still some assets on the Bulls' roster, which doesn't make much sense for a team that is trying to get the No. 1 pick in the last year before the NBA's tanking rules change.

From veteran players to a guard entering his prime, there are a few players who don't make sense on the current Chicago roster.

Therefore, it wouldn't be surprising to see the Bulls quickly become active players on the trade market, especially after Saturday night's embarrassing 101-69 home loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Clearly, the Bulls can't hang with the NBA's top teams, so - sporting a 1-4 record at the moment - the time is now to trade these three players:

Robin Lopez

Lopez has emerged into a leader during his time with the Bulls, but at age 29, there's not much reason for him to continue to lead the hapless Chicago roster.

The defensive-minded center still has a lot to offer, so he could command a decent price on the trade market, especially as contenders look to bolster their defense before the trade deadline.

Of all the players on this list, Lopez should probably be the first to be moved, as he will command the highest price and has the most to offer a team in the playoff hunt.

Zach LaVine

LaVine isn't expected to return from a torn ACL until late November, but the former Minnesota point guard may not be on the Bulls for very long upon his return.

One of the key pieces of the Jimmy Butler trade, LaVine is an explosive dunker and capable point guard, but again, players like that have no place on the Chicago roster during this rebuilding process.

At only 22 years of age and making only $3.2 million this year, LaVine could be a valuable piece to a Chicago rebuild.

However, the Bulls have to ask themselves if a score-first point guard with an injury history is worth investing in long term. He could be a valuable player on a team where he's not the focal point, so the best move for both parties may be to explore a trade when he's healthy.

Nikola Mirotic

Mirotic is currently injured and was originally expected to miss about six weeks after an altercation with teammate Bobby Portis left him with broken bones in his face.

Therefore, it would seem to send a bad message if the Bulls traded Mirotic while keeping Portis, but Mirotic has a much larger salary than Portis ($12.5 million to $1.5 million).

Thus, Chicago may be much more motivated to move Mirotic, who is a capable outside shooter and could be a valuable addition to a contending team's bench down the stretch.