Report: Hinrich, Mirotic To Join Bulls
(CBS) -- Guard Kirk Hinrich will be re-signing with the Chicago Bulls, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Hinrich, 33, has played nine of his 11 NBA seasons with the Bulls, including last season when he averaged 9.1 points per game. Hinrich will sign a two-year, $5.6-million deal using the room exception, according to multiple reports.
It appears that Hinrich will be joined by Nikola Mirotic, who announced on Twitter that he would be signing with the Bulls. Mirotic will sign a three-year, $17-million deal, according to the Tribune.
I am very happy and excited to announce that next season I will be playing with the @chicagobulls . Today I fulfill a dream. #BullsNation
— Nikola Mirotic (@nikolamirotic12) July 13, 2014
The Bulls acquired the rights to Mirotic in a 2011 draft-day trade, and he's been playing for Real Madrid in Spain since. He's considered a "stretch four" and one of the best players not currently in the NBA. He'll come off the bench for Chicago in a frontcourt that also includes Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson and the newly signed Pau Gasol.
Unless the Bulls find a surprise trade partner for Carlos Boozer, he will be waived with the amnesty provision by Wednesday, which will wipe $16.8 million off Chicago's cap. That will open up about $10 million, and combined with a reported trade of backup center Greg Smith to Dallas, that cap space will be used to sign Gasol and Mirotic.
In the backcourt, the Bulls will have Hinrich backing up Derrick Rose at point guard. On the wings, Jimmy Butler and Mike Dunleavy figure to start with rookie Doug McDermott and second-year pro Tony Snell as backups.