Bulls
Nikola Mirotic
After  Nikola Mirotic  failed to evoke significant interest in restricted free agency last year  the Bulls and  his  representatives agreed on an intriguing proposal.
Rather than play this season on  his  $7.2 million qualifying offer  why not make a higher annual salary on a two-year  $25 million deal structured with a team option that could make Mirotic eminently tradable at some point in the deal?
And if  Mirotic  played well  which  he  has   he  might be able to net a first-round pick in return. Plus  the Bulls were â and still are â under the salary-cap floor.
The notion that itâs a matter of when  not if   Mirotic  is dealt picked up steam Tuesday.
Indeed  the creative structure to  Mirotic âs deal is both blessing and curse. The collective bargaining agreement allows  Mirotic  the right to reject a trade if the second-year team option isnât exercised.
 Mirotic  has never backed off  his  claim to want to be elsewhere â and start â after Bobby Portisâ punch Oct. 17 broke two facial bones and cost  Mirotic  23 games. The deal had attractiveness to it. Last season   Mirotic  called Rajon Rondo  now with the Pelicans  his favorite teammate along with Pau Gasol. And heâd start for a team challenging for the playoffs.
But sources said  Mirotic   for now  ultimately soured on waiving  his  guaranteed $12.5 million next season  not to mention  his  Bird rights. Those allow a team to go over the salary cap to sign  him  to a deal with higher annual raises than signing via a salary-cap exception.
Whether Miroticâs stance changes before the Feb. 8 trade deadline remains to be seen. The Bulls also could pick up his option â which negates  Mirotic âs ability to reject a trade â and then find a trading partner.
The Bulls and Jazz also remain in talks  sources said  and  Mirotic  is intrigued by the idea of playing for coach Quin Snyder.
 Mirotic  experienced an emotional day.  It  began with  him  testing  his  strained left leg on the practice floor. Then  he  got pulled into an office by coach Fred Hoiberg and ultimately left the facility while a practice  he  wasnât scheduled to participate in took place.
Sources said the decision weighed on  Mirotic  heavily.  He  ultimately boarded the Bulls charter flight to Portland  Ore.  on Tuesday afternoon.
Before that  Hoiberg was purposely vague regarding Miroticâs playing status. He answered âweâll seeâ and later that heâd âanticipate that he wouldâ when asked before practice if  Mirotic  would travel.
What the Blake Griffin trade means for the NBA â and Nikola Mirotic Â»
After   [TGT] failed to evoke significant interest in restricted free agency last year  the Bulls and   [TGT]   representatives agreed on an intriguing proposal.
Rather than play this season on   [TGT]   $7.2 million qualifying offer  why not make a higher annual salary on a two-year  $25 million deal structured with a team option that could make Mirotic eminently tradable at some point in the deal?
And if  Mirotic  played well  which  he  has   he  might be able to net a first-round pick in return. Plus  the Bulls were â and still are â under the salary-cap floor.
The notion that itâs a matter of when  not if   Mirotic  is dealt picked up steam Tuesday.
Indeed  the creative structure to  Mirotic âs deal is both blessing and curse. The collective bargaining agreement allows  Mirotic  the right to reject a trade if the second-year team option isnât exercised.
 Mirotic  has never backed off  his  claim to want to be elsewhere â and start â after Bobby Portisâ punch Oct. 17 broke two facial bones and cost  Mirotic  23 games. The deal had attractiveness to it. Last season   Mirotic  called Rajon Rondo  now with the Pelicans  his favorite teammate along with Pau Gasol. And heâd start for a team challenging for the playoffs.
But sources said  Mirotic   for now  ultimately soured on waiving  his  guaranteed $12.5 million next season  not to mention  his  Bird rights. Those allow a team to go over the salary cap to sign  him  to a deal with higher annual raises than signing via a salary-cap exception.
Whether Miroticâs stance changes before the Feb. 8 trade deadline remains to be seen. The Bulls also could pick up his option â which negates  Mirotic âs ability to reject a trade â and then find a trading partner.
The Bulls and Jazz also remain in talks  sources said  and  Mirotic  is intrigued by the idea of playing for coach Quin Snyder.
 Mirotic  experienced an emotional day.  It  began with  him  testing  his  strained left leg on the practice floor. Then  he  got pulled into an office by coach Fred Hoiberg and ultimately left the facility while a practice  he  wasnât scheduled to participate in took place.
Sources said the decision weighed on  Mirotic  heavily.  He  ultimately boarded the Bulls charter flight to Portland  Ore.  on Tuesday afternoon.
Before that  Hoiberg was purposely vague regarding Miroticâs playing status. He answered âweâll seeâ and later that heâd âanticipate that he wouldâ when asked before practice if  Mirotic  would travel.
What the Blake Griffin trade means for the NBA â and Nikola Mirotic Â»