The Chicago Bulls may be nearing a deal to bring well-regarded big man Nikola Mirotic over from Europe, reports Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com. The former 2011 first-round pick could be a major addition for next season after several years of starring for Real Madrid in Spain.
Bulls closing in on deal with Nikola Mirotic
The Bulls’ offseason could take a major turn if the team completes its rumored deal with European big man Nikola Mirotic soon.
Jamie McDonald
Since being selected No. 23 overall three years ago, Mirotic has emerged as one of the game’s top international players. On Thursday, he finally agreed to a buyout with Real Madrid, handing over $3 million in exchange for the freedom to join the NBA.
Still early in the offseason, the Bulls remain in pursuit of big-name players like Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Love and Pau Gasol for next season, but Mirotic could end up being one of the team's big additions for next season. He's starred for Real Madrid over the past few seasons, despite consistently being one of the youngest players on his roster.
The deal could also have significant implications for the Bulls’ pursuit of a player like Anthony or Love, as Mirotic is considered one of the Bulls’ most valuable assets. Most speculated deals for those star players involved Chicago shipping out Mirotic, and his signing would effectively take most of those options off the table.
As SB Nation’s Mark Deeks points out, the Bulls won’t be able to trade Mirotic for 30 days after they sign him. By then, it’s likely the situations with ‘Melo and Love will be resolved, leaving Chicago hanging when it comes to getting one of the offseason’s big fish.
So maybe the Bulls view Mirotic as their big get, with someone like Gasol adding some experience and veteran production to the mix. Or maybe they still think they can complete a deal without Mirotic, then use the mid-level exception to bring on the European star. That may be the ideal scenario.
But either way, it seems the Bulls will be adding at least one significant name this summer. Whether that’s ultimately Mirotic remains unclear, but the odds seem to be pointing in that direction.
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