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So, what’s going on with Nikola Mirotic and his contract situation?

By Michael Whitlow

CHICAGO, IL - MARCH 28: Nikola Mirotic #44 of the Chicago Bulls moves past Cleanthony Early #17 of the New York Knicks at the United Center on March 28, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bulls defeated the Knicks 111-80. 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 Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - MARCH 28: Nikola Mirotic #44 of the Chicago Bulls moves past Cleanthony Early #17 of the New York Knicks at the United Center on March 28, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bulls defeated the Knicks 111-80. 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 Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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Nikola Mirotic still hasn’t come to terms with a new contract with the Chicago Bulls this summer. When is this going to get done, GarPax? Actually, here’s a better question: is this going to get done?

Shortly after the free agency period opened this past July, the Chicago Bulls made quick work in getting Cristiano Felicio — not Nikola Mirotic — signed to a new four-year, $32 million deal.

The big headline for the Bulls during the summer was obviously the draft night trade that sent Jimmy Butler (and their own first-round pick) to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Kris Dunn, Zach LaVine and the No. 7 overall pick, which turned out to be Arizona power forward Lauri Markkanen.

Butler was the franchise’s centerpiece, but with the change in direction towards the very bottom of the NBA’s landscape, the young prospects on the roster became the main priority, including Nikola Mirotic.

Here’s the thing, though: is Mirotic even coming back to Chicago this season?

The safe and probably correct answer is yes. Mirotic is only 26 years old and the Bulls front office pairing of Gar Forman and John Paxson have stated numerous times that they expect Mirotic back next season and that a deal will get done at some point, despite rumors that the Bulls were shopping Mirotic around the trade deadline last season.

What’s weird about the Mirotic situation is that nothing, and I mean nothing, has even leaked about Mirotic and the Bulls coming to terms on a potential deal. There’s been nothing. Nada. Not even the smallest of rumors.

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It’s definitely got a Cubs-White Sox feel to things, referencing the trade before the Major League Baseball’s trade deadline this summer that sent left-handed pitcher Jose Quintana from the South Side to the North Side.

It’s quiet. Too quiet.

So, when is a deal going to get done for Mirotic?

That’s one of the many good questions here. Nobody really knows. Training camps across the league open in late September and it would be safe to assume that a deal gets done before then.

That leads to a follow-up question, too. Why is it safe to assume that Mirotic and the Bulls will get a deal done? That’s actually a really good question. Sure, GarPax have mentioned that they want Mirotic back in the fold.

But, should they?

Mirotic has shot 35 percent from 3-point range on average in his three seasons with the Bulls. He’s shot a shade under 41 percent from the field in that span. For every hot March stretch Mirotic has had, like last season from March 22-30 when Mirotic averaged 24.8 points on almost 69 (!) percent shooting, there’s a bit bigger sample size where Mirotic shoots 36 percent from the field and provides next to nothing on either end of the floor.

And, the Bulls just drafted a player that basically plays the same position and style as him in Markkanen, who has shown some potential for the Finnish National Team during the EuroBasket Tournament.

Mirotic has been the point of frustration for many fans in the Bulls fan base and his lack of consistency has been a concern since his rookie season.

That leads to the next question: is a deal even going to get done for Mirotic?

Is it really that crazy to think that maybe a deal just doesn’t get done between Mirotic and the Bulls?

As of now, Mirotic is the starting power forward for the Bulls, but that’s if a deal gets done. Despite his struggles, Mirotic is a better option at PF than Bobby Portis is. Portis can provide an offensive spark — just like we saw in the playoffs against the Boston Celtics — but he’s still a disaster on the defensive end.

Without Mirotic, Portis is the next man up next to Robin Lopez, who may not be around much longer with a new plan for the Bulls.

Here’s where things get tricky: the Bulls are a little less than $8 million below the NBA’s salary floor of $89,183,700 for this upcoming season and that’s with Dwyane Wade‘s entire $23.8 million player option on the books. That’s a whole other discussion to be had.

Basically, the Bulls have to reach that floor and one of the ways they do that is to pay Mirotic.

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Will they? When will they? Nobody really knows at this point, but with the current cap projections and the Bulls actually getting “younger and more athletic” this time around in the summer, Mirotic will likely be a Bull come Opening Night. It’s just going to take some (more) time.

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