Nikola Mirotic probably won’t play for the Bulls any more after being shut down

Nikola Mirotic was on the brink of joining the Pelicans on Tuesday. Wednesday, the Bulls announced we might not see him in a Chicago uniform ever again.

Mirotic is being shelved by the Bulls until he’s either traded or the trade deadline passes, according to a report from the Chicago Tribune. The Bulls’ forward was pulled off the practice court on Tuesday when a trade seemed to be solidified with the Pelicans. Things aren’t exactly imminent, but they’re reportedly very close.

Mirotic has been angling for a trade ever since he and Bobby Portis got into a scuffle before the season started.

The Bulls weren’t initially willing to move Mirotic unless the time was right, but it seems that is finally the case. The team going out of its way to sit him shows it’s willing to work to move things forward and help him move on.

Sitting him is a prudent move that keeps him healthy and ready for whichever team he’s going to. There is a thought that sitting him plays the Bulls’ hand, but teams know he wants to leave, and they want to trade him anyway. It won’t hinder his trade value because he can easily be pulled from the block and forced to remain in Chicago.

It’s time to move on, and both sides are ready. It’s only a matter of time before we see Mirotic suiting up once again, but it will probably be for a different team.