The Nikola Mirotic drama in Chicago could soon be coming to an end. No longer with the team as the Bulls look to move the enigmatic forward, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski is reporting that Chicago is finalizing a deal to send Mirotic to the New Orleans Pelicans.
New Orleans is finalizing deal to acquire Nikola Mirotic, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 1, 2018
The two sides seemingly had a deal worked out earlier this week, but that fell through.
Mirotic’s 2017-18 season started with him suffering multiple serious injuries following a fight with teammate Bobby Portis on opening day. Since then, it’s become readily apparent that he did not have a future in the Windy City.
For the Pelicans, it was extremely important to add another big piece after DeMarcus Cousins went down with a season-ending injury last week.
Mirotic, 26, is averaging a career-best 16.8 points to go with 6.4 rebounds while shooting at a 43 percent mark from distance this season.
Omer Asik and a first-round pick are expected to be two parts headed back to Chicago in the trade.
New Orleans is planning to guarantee the $12.5M salary of Mirotic in the 2018-19 season, league sources tell ESPN. That clinched a deal. Omer Asik and a future first-rounder part of package to Bulls, league source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 1, 2018
That’s not a bad haul for a Bulls team that has had Mirotic on the block for the vast majority of the season.