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Why the Bulls should move on from Nikola Mirotic this summer

By Evan Gilbert

CLEVELAND, OH - FEBRUARY 25: Nikola Mirotic #44 of the Chicago Bulls and Cristiano Felicio #6 celebrate after scoring during the second half at Quicken Loans Arena on February 25, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Bulls defeated the Cavaliers 117-99. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - FEBRUARY 25: Nikola Mirotic #44 of the Chicago Bulls and Cristiano Felicio #6 celebrate after scoring during the second half at Quicken Loans Arena on February 25, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Bulls defeated the Cavaliers 117-99. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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The Chicago Bulls and Nikola Mirotic aren’t any closer to a deal than what they were earlier this summer. He shouldn’t be a priority for the Bulls anymore.

At this point in free agency, Nikola Mirotic is still a free agent. His lack of options says a lot about his value across the league.

However, the little interest from any other team due to his lack of adaptation to the NBA game and with the Chicago Bulls’ free agency track record, it’s safe to assume the Bulls will overpay him.

After all, that’s what the Bulls always seem to do. Mirotic seems like a black hole during games. Every possession he touches the ball, he seems to fire up a miss from the deep 3-point range.

The Bulls should move on from Mirotic despite the rebuild and here’s a few reasons why they should.

Lack of growth

In Mirotic’s first year in the league, he averaged 10.2 points per game and with two more years under his belt, he’s only managed to raise that average to 10.6 points a game. If that doesn’t scream a player with a high ceiling, I don’t know what does!

But in all seriousness, for a “scorer”, the guy does not score as much as he should. Sure, he’ll have a game where he scores 30 and looks fantastic, but that only happens five games a season. The other 77 games brings Bulls fans screaming at their TVs.

Average shooting and an unpredictable front office do not mix well

Mirotic is a career 35 percent 3-point shooter. While that is not a terrible number, it is not nearly high enough for what John Paxson and Gar Forman deem a stretch four/3-point specialist. Mirotic’s defense is utter trash.

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Additionally, Mirotic still has not improved his rebounding totals to where they need to be. I don’t care if a team offers him the veteran minimum or $18 million a season (cough, Knicks, Tim Hardaway, Jr.), the Bulls should not match the offer.

If a player does not perform as an elite scorer or 3-point specialist, which is what the front office sees him as, then re-signing him to any deal would mean they’re smoking crack.

Too bad in the Bulls’ case, smoking crack is exactly what it seems GarPax has been doing this offseason.

The Lauri Markkanen problem

I haven’t even mentioned the fact that the Bulls drafted Lauri Markkanen, a player who was scouted as a 3-point specialist and scorer. Sound familiar?

He also plays the same position as Mirotic and it would be nice to give the new guy some minutes. If the Bulls want Markkanen to develop behind a player that never reached what “potential” he had and learn to shoot the ball every possession, then I’m all for re-signing Mirotic.

Next: Why the Bulls should keep Mirotic for the long run

Otherwise, please GarPax, just let the guy walk!

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