HoopsHype.com Rumors

Sam: The issue with Mirotic’s contract is for three years he is slotted as a low No. 1 pick, which means he can earn a maximum of $1 million. He has a buyout in his contract of supposedly several million dollars, of which the Bulls can contribute $300,000 or $500,000. Plus he makes several million dollars a season. So to come to the NBA anytime before the 2014-15 season could cost him up to $3 million to $5 million a year out of his pocket. Why exactly would he do that? He wouldn’t, of course. After the 2013-14 seasons, the rules change and the Bulls can pay him more and then you can begin talking about him. The NBA won’t see him until at least then. NBA.com

Chicago Bulls, Real Madrid, Spain, Nikola Mirotic 

International scout Ivica Dukan has a longstanding relationship with Real Madrid officials, so the Bulls have been closely monitoring Mirotic's progress. Though Mirotic's contract includes a buyout of roughly 2 million euros, the Bulls sounded confident they eventually would land him when they acquired his rights. "In our speaking with him, his desire and dream is to play in the NBA at some point," general manager said in June. Forman called Mirotic a 6-foot-10 power forward with "a great offensive package" in June. Mirotic has an outside shot at making the Spanish Olympic team despite his youth. Chicago Tribune

Chicago Bulls, Real Madrid, Nikola Mirotic 

The Euroleague Rising Star Trophy has a repeat winner for the first time! Real Madrid forward Nikola Mirotic, whose breakout a year ago earned him the vote of Turkish Airlines Euroleague head coaches, is the Rising Star Trophy winner once again after dramatically improving his output this season. If last season Mirotic rose from a prospect to an important contributor for Los Blancos, this season he took the next step as a full-time starter and bona fide star. It was a season full of firsts for the 21-year-old forward. After just 10 weeks, Mirotic had notched his first Euroleague double-double, his first weekly bwin MVP honor and his first bwin MVP of the month award, for December. Despite being its youngest regular player, Mirotic led Madrid in performance index rating, 14.6 per game, and ranked among the team's top three in scoring, shooting percentage from all ranges, rebounding, steals and fouls drawn. Moreover, he was the Euroleague's single best free throw shooter, making 56 of 61 tries for a 91.8% accuracy rate, while ranking ninth overall in performance index rating. Euroleague.net

Chicago Bulls, Real Madrid, Euroleague, Nikola Mirotic 

"I was thrilled by the Chicago option. I had talked with them and I was thrilled and attracted by this possibility. So I stayed in the draft because of Chicago," said Mirotic, who told the site he learned of the Bulls' interest "maybe two to three weeks before the draft." "You can never be 100 percent sure, but I kind of knew they were going to pick me." Since the draft, Mirotic hasn't second-guessed his decision to remain in the draft. CSN Chicago

Chicago Bulls, Nikola Mirotic 

First-round pick Nikola Mirotic said the only reason he stayed in this year's NBA draft is because of the strong possibility his rights would be acquired by the Chicago Bulls. In an interview with HoopsHype.com editor-in-chief Jorge Sierra, Mirotic said he was "thrilled by the Chicago option" and was told by Bulls management roughly two to three weeks before the June draft that it planned to try to acquire him. Chicago Tribune

Chicago Bulls, Real Madrid, Spain, Nikola Mirotic 

"I was very happy," Mirotic told the website. "I spoke with (Bulls international scout) Ivica Dukan, who’s Croatian, and I was very thrilled. I think it’s a team that’s growing and has a lot of young players. Time will tell exactly when I go over there or if I go (laughs). Right now, I’m happy and I want to reach my goals here." Chicago Tribune

Chicago Bulls, Real Madrid, Spain, Nikola Mirotic 

One thing is certain: He's excited about the Bulls whenever he does. "They have a great history and they are building a great team," Mirotic told HoopsHype.com. "Of course, I like the coach and the manager is Croatian and I’m familiar with him. So my decision to stay in the draft was perfect." Chicago Tribune

Chicago Bulls, Real Madrid, Spain, Nikola Mirotic 

In the weeks leading up to the draft, you were kind of hinting that you were probably going to pull your name out of the draft. But you didn’t. What happened? Nikola Mirotic: I was thrilled by the Chicago option. I had talked with them and I was thrilled and attracted by this possibility. So I stayed in the draft because of Chicago. So you knew Chicago was going to select you for sure? [The Bulls acquired the draft rights to Mirotic, who was initially selected by the Rockets]. Nikola Mirotic: You can never be 100 percent sure, but I kind of knew they were going to pick me. HoopsHype

Chicago Bulls, Real Madrid, Spain, Nikola Mirotic 

When did you learn that? Nikola Mirotic: Maybe 2-3 weeks before the draft. What was reaction when it was confirmed that you were Chicago’s choice? Nikola Mirotic: I was very happy. I spoke with (Bulls international scout) Ivica Dukan, who’s Croatian, and I was very thrilled. I think it’s a team that’s growing and has a lot of young players. Time will tell exactly when I go over there or if I go (laughs). Right now, I’m happy and I want to reach my goals here. HoopsHype

Chicago Bulls, Real Madrid, Spain, Nikola Mirotic 

Emiliano Carchia: Spanish Federation is working with FIBA to have the possibility to call both Serge Ibaka and Nikola Mirotic in the National Team. FIBA allows nowadays just one naturalized player. Twitter

Chicago Bulls, Oklahoma City Thunder, Spain, Serge Ibaka, Nikola Mirotic 

Why haven't you jumped to the NBA if the Bulls already have your NBA rights? Nikola Mirotic: Because I don't feel ready and I'm very happy in Madrid. I'm growing up as a player and as a person and I want to keep doing it. I want to win titles, I want to compete. I came here when I was a child. Madrid has given me everything and I still want to be here. Right now I don't think about the NBA. El Pais

Chicago Bulls, Real Madrid, Nikola Mirotic 

In his first public comments on Nikola Mirotic, Chicago Bulls general manager Gar Forman praised Mirotic's versatile offensive game and said he's confident the Real Madrid forward eventually will play in the NBA. "We can't say for sure when he'll be able to come over, but we're hopeful he'll be a big part of what we're doing," Forman said Monday at Berto Center. "In our speaking with him, his desire and dream is to play in the NBA at some point." Chicago Tribune

Chicago Bulls, Real Madrid, Nikola Mirotic 

KC Johnson: Gar Forman on Mirotic's future plans: "In our speaking with him, his desire and dream is to play in the NBA at some point." Twitter

Chicago Bulls, Real Madrid, Nikola Mirotic, Gar Forman 

KC Johnson: Gar on Mirotic's buyout: "We can't say for sure when he'll be able to come over but we're hopeful he'll be a big part of what we're doing." Twitter

Chicago Bulls, Real Madrid, Nikola Mirotic, Gar Forman 

The Bulls officially announced the acquisition of Nikola Mirotic's draft rights from the Timberwolves once paperwork cleared the NBA league office Friday evening. League sources said Mirotic's buyout from Real Madrid stands at roughly 2 million Euros. That number obviously is negotiable, but the plan for now is to keep Mirotic overseas for at least two or three seasons of his five-year deal. Bulls international scout Ivica Dukan has watched Mirotic, 20, for years and management projected him as a lottery pick talent whose long-term contract and buyout situation dropped him in the draft. Chicago Tribune

Chicago Bulls, Draft, Real Madrid, Nikola Mirotic 

I don't have Singler rated as a Top 30 prospect. But I might be mistaken. A source said the Thunder are very high on Singler and believe he could be an Andres Nocioni-type player in the NBA. He is tough, has a good motor and will be able to knock down open shots. If he plays that role in the NBA, he's well worth the 24th pick. Nikola Mirotic is another possibility here. ESPN.com

Oklahoma City Thunder, Draft, Kyle Singler, Nikola Mirotic 

Jonathan Givony: I think the guy who is the number one sleeper in this draft is Nikola Mirotic. He's got no chance of being drafted in the top 20 because of his buy-out situation, but if you're ranking purely on just talent, I would say that he should be a top-10 pick. That's my opinion. Raptors HQ

Draft, Nikola Mirotic 

Mirotic surprisingly elected to keep his name in the draft after telling everyone for months that he would withdraw. Having recently signed a lucrative extension with Real Madrid until 2015, the Montenegrin native is years away from stepping foot on an NBA court. Nevertheless, he’s a lottery caliber talent who harbors NBA aspirations, which could make him a significant asset in 2-3 years. The Spurs are the type of franchise that is willing and able to be patient with a prospect like Mirotic, and are also savvy, aggressive and knowledgeable enough with these international situations to know how to get a deal done. Yahoo! Sports

Draft, Real Madrid, Nikola Mirotic 

Ryan Feldman: Lucas Nogueira was the top player to withdraw from the draft today. Nikola Mirotic + Davis Bertans, both likely 1st rd picks, stayed in it. Twitter

Draft, Lucas Nogueira, Nikola Mirotic, Davis Bertans 

Meanwhile, another European prospect, Nikola Mirotic, could get knocked from the first round because of a buyout so exorbitant that another general manager calls it a “nightmare.” That is not nearly the issue of the Valanciunas uncertainty, though, because Mirotic would have been considered a bubble first-rounder even with a clean move to the United States. NBA.com

Draft, Nikola Mirotic