UPDATE: The deal was stalled due to contract issues with Nikola Mirotic.
UPDATE No. 2: The Chicago Tribune’s K.C. Johnson is reporting that the Bulls and Pelicans have a deal, again. The Bulls will send Nikola Mirotic and a second round pick to New Orleans for Omer Asik, Tony Allen and a 2018 First Round Pick.
So, to recap, the deal, while not final, is being worked to completion with Mirotic and 2nd-round pick headed to Pelicans and Asik and future 1st-round pick coming to Bulls. Option to swap 2nd-round picks in future draft.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) February 1, 2018
Sources: Chicago has traded forward Nikola Mirotic to New Orleans for Omer Asik, Tony Allen and a first-round draft pick.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 1, 2018
No word yet on if the pick the Bulls are getting back is protected or not.
ORIGINAL STORY
After weeks of speculation, the Chicago Bulls have finally made a decision on forward Nikola Mirotic.
According to NBC Sports Chicago’s Vincent Goodwill, the Bulls will trade Miortic to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for a 2018 first round pick and Omer Asik.
Goodwill tweeted out the news on Tuesday afternoon:
Hearing Nikola Mirotic will be dealt to New Orleans Pelicans for Omer Asik and first round draft pick, sources tell @NBCSChicago
— Vincent Goodwill (@VinceGoodwill) January 30, 2018
The 31-year-old Asik played two seasons with the Bulls from 2010-12 averaging 2.9 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. He then signed a deal with the Houston Rockets before joining the Pelicans in 2014.
Asik will be owed $11.3 million in the 2018-19 season and then has a $12 million player option in 2019-20. The Pelicans needed to get out of his contract and had to give up the first round pick to do so.
The Bulls can buyout Asik for $3 million in the final year of his contract.
The pick the Bulls are getting back currently sits at No. 21 overall but could change depending on the Pelicans’ final record.
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