Although the Bulls have reportedly spoken to the Nuggets about a possible exchange around Zach LaVine And Michael Porter Jr.they have shown no interest in taking it Zeke Nnaji“s contract back in a deal with Denver, reports KC Johnson of the Chicago Sports Network (Twitter link).

Porter is making $35.9 million this season and LaVine’s top earnings are about $43 million. The Nuggets wouldn’t be allowed to take back more salary than they spend in a trade, so adding Nnaji ($8.9 million) would make perfect sense for Denver. However, the forward/center, who is on a four-year contract in the first season and doesn’t play regular rotation minutes, has negative trade value.

The Bulls’ position on Nnaji doesn’t necessarily mean the two sides can’t get a deal done. The Nuggets could try to convince Chicago to sign him with additional incentives or find a third team willing to take on Nnaji’s contract along with some sort of draft compensation. The two teams could also make a deal without involving Nnaji – that would mean a tie-up Dario Saric and another low-salary player (everyone except Jalen Pickett or Hunter Tyson) to Porter to surpass LaVine’s incoming cap hit.

Here’s more from around Central:

• It was a successful start to the season on Friday Cavaliers wing Max Struswho made a trio of three-pointers and was +20 in 19 minutes of play in a blowout win over Milwaukee, writes Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com (subscriber link). Strus, who missed the first 27 games of the season while recovering from an ankle injury, was limited to one minute on Friday and then sat out Saturday’s second game of a back-to-back set due to injury concerns. notes Fedor (Twitter link).
• With Isaac Okoro out and Strus is just coming back, Dean Wade started as a small forward for the Cavaliers On both Friday and Saturday, he posted a +34 in a total of 46 minutes and scored a total of 21 points on 7-of-9 shooting in two blowout victories. As Fedor writes in another Cleveland.com story, Wade’s performance is a reminder that the Cavs will have 11 players worthy of rotation minutes once everyone is healthy. Head coach Kenny Atkinson I would ideally like to find playing time for everyone, sources tell Fedor. “It’s easy for anyone to say, ‘I earn my minutes.’ We have the best record in the league. Why shouldn’t I continue playing my minutes?'” Atkinson said. “But when Max is back, we will have these conversations individually and as a team.”
• After missing the first 21 games of the season while recovering from offseason surgeries on both ankles, dollar forward Chris Middleton still rounds in shape. On Saturday, he took a big step forward with a win over Washington, playing for the first time in a row and setting personal season highs with 18 points, eight assists, six rebounds, four three-pointers and 24 minutes played. “I still have a bit to go, but tonight definitely felt like the best night I’ve had so far.” Middleton said after the game (Twitter link via Eric Nehm of The Athletic). “It’s always great to get a few threes going, even in the mid-range.”