Top European Performers of the 2011 NBA Draft Class

Drafted in the latter part of the first round due in large part to the 5-year contract extension he signed with Real Madrid after winning the Euroleague Rising Star award last season, Nikola Mirotic has been nothing short of terrific in recent months. ... Mirotic is not an elite athlete and may lack a degree of NBA upside because of it, but he's playing great basketball for one of Europe's best teams and couldn't be showing too much more in the way of role-player potential for the NBA.

5 months ago Tim S. 26 comments 2 recs |

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Returning to Madrid for the 2011-2012 season, Mirotic has gone from being a sparkplug scorer off the bench for Real to one of the best power forwards in European basketball.

Man, after that paragraph, it just gets better

by Belize on Dec 19, 2011 4:41 PM CST reply actions 1 recs

Wow

We haz a baby Dirk!

Can’t believe that photo exists, and it’s creepy.

by cubbybear on Dec 19, 2011 4:53 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

thats frikin creepy

by Belize on Dec 19, 2011 5:03 PM CST up reply actions

Yes, and the buyout only lasts for four years, which means that after three years the team

would likely negotiate for a lower buyout so as to get something out of the deal. So see you in 2014, Mirotic!

by Tim S. on Dec 19, 2011 4:57 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

wait, was that excitement genuine?

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by your friendly BullsBlogger on Dec 19, 2011 5:05 PM CST up reply actions 2 recs

Yeah, kind of.

Sorry, I know that’s frowned upon around here.

by Tim S. on Dec 19, 2011 6:56 PM CST up reply actions

It is looking like a Toni Kukoc level of player

may be the worst case scenario out of Mirotic.
That would not be a bad haul out of a 2nd rounder, even having to wait a couple years to get him.

"I can accept failure, but I can't accept not trying." -- Michael Jordan

by bennythebull on Dec 19, 2011 5:28 PM CST reply actions

It's good to have an overpaid PF that will be amnestied eventually, allowing you to stash Euro All Stars in Spain, waiting for a bag to be tripped over.

by cubbybear on Dec 19, 2011 5:39 PM CST up reply actions

Toni was an amazing passer and fairly athletic for a 6'11" guy.

But Mirotic appears to be a lot tougher on the boards.

by Ozzie Montana on Dec 19, 2011 5:52 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

I meant like Toni

in terms of quality of player, rather than style of play. They do seem to be very different games.

"I can accept failure, but I can't accept not trying." -- Michael Jordan

by bennythebull on Dec 19, 2011 6:30 PM CST up reply actions

I was about to write the same thing

Kukoc was a genius passer. The Bulls would never be able to run an offense through Mirotic though, but he brings things to the table that Kukoc didn’t. If he’s as good for the Bulls as Kukoc was, that would be amazing.

Btw, I always got the feeling that Bulls fans kind of were disappointed in Toni’s career in Chicago. I don’t know, maybe it was the Pippen incident (not his fault), or his perceived lack of toughness, or maybe he could never live up to his European legend…

I'm getting too old for this shit...

by Judge Mental on Dec 20, 2011 5:56 PM CST up reply actions

yeah he was called the waiter for a reason!

knew how to serve the ball right up!! toni was always my favorite.

Look
I didn’t want to offend anyone by saying the "f" word or generalizing my statement to any particular sex by saying "gays" or lesbians" or "bi’s" so "homos" is the most "politically correct" term. I’m just trying to be more tact in a tactless blog.

by Hindut Patrol on Feb 15, 2011 2:51 PM EST

by Jaina on Dec 20, 2011 8:24 PM CST up reply actions

2nd rounder?

I thought he was around No. 23

He took his what to where?!

by hlac on Dec 19, 2011 5:56 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

Which, in a way is bad

because if he were a 2nd rounder we could give him more than what he could get at No. 23. Plus he would get to his 2nd contract sooner which would be another inducement for him to sign…assuming he’s worth signing.

He took his what to where?!

by hlac on Dec 19, 2011 6:00 PM CST up reply actions

I think this is Boozer's last year

especially if Taj keeps developing, that $16 mil can be used nicely next offseason.

by Ceasaleo on Dec 19, 2011 5:54 PM CST reply actions

they still won't be under the cap

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by your friendly BullsBlogger on Dec 19, 2011 6:35 PM CST up reply actions

won't be as close to the tax either

by Ceasaleo on Dec 19, 2011 7:40 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

Based on one preseason game?

Let’s give it some time. Boozer did play well during the regular season last year.

by Tim S. on Dec 19, 2011 6:57 PM CST up reply actions

you're forgetting that Jerry still has to pay Booz that $16 mil per

by Rose Colored Goggles on Dec 19, 2011 7:53 PM CST up reply actions 3 recs

This.

People seem to think amnestying Boozer is some sort of cure-all.

Boozer’s overpaid? Let’s pay him not to play for us!
Jerry doesn’t want to pay the tax? I’m sure he’ll be happy paying $15m/year to a guy playing for another team!
Awesome free agents? Maybe the NBA will forget that we’re still against the cap if we just amnesty Boozer!

by madcow256 on Dec 20, 2011 11:39 PM CST up reply actions

Minus whatever another team gives him

by tuluse on Dec 21, 2011 12:16 PM CST up reply actions

Time to trade those rights for Tayshaun Prince and cash!!!!!

"The flames on his pants looked way too.... Bam Bam Bigelow-y."

- Comment on Bleacher Report about Kane's new digs.

by Dr. Handsome, D.D.S. on Dec 19, 2011 6:14 PM CST reply actions 1 recs

"if he's able to make it over the ocean someday."

I think that last statement is the most significant one in regards to Mirotic.

Dont get me wrong, I am glad to see him doing so well in the ACB. I am just cautiously optimistic until he actually plays for the Bulls.

by VaderMaul on Dec 19, 2011 8:08 PM CST reply actions

2014. Count on it.

by Tim S. on Dec 20, 2011 2:16 AM CST up reply actions

If he wants to come over before his contract is up

him and his agent will find a way to make it happen. Pissy players who want out of their contract are not exclusive to the States. Madrid will take the money instead of dealing with an unhappy player who wants to be elsewhere.

I'm getting too old for this shit...

by Judge Mental on Dec 20, 2011 5:59 PM CST up reply actions