The Sacramento Kings and Chicago Bulls have held discussions centered on a trade involving Pau Gasol.

In the discussed scenario, the Kings would acquire Gasol and Tony Snell from the Bulls for Kosta Koufos, Ben McLemore and the lowering of lottery protections on a pick owed by Sacramento to Chicago.

The lowering of protections would increase the odds of the pick being conveyed to the Bulls.

The pick owed to the Bulls began in 2011 with the Kings' trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers when they acquired J.J. Hickson for Omri Casspi and a future first rounder. The pick was then dealt to the Chicago Bulls in 2014 for Luol Deng.

The Kings have reached out to the Philadelphia 76ers because they have the right to swap picks with the Kings on the 2016 selection. The 76ers were preparing to ask for a sweetener to allow the Kings to move on a trade with the Bulls because of the pick swap.