NBA Rumors: Chicago Bulls expected to make signing Nikola Mirotic their “big offseason move”

Earlier this weekend it was noted that the Chicago Bulls met with former first round draft pick Nikola Mirotic, who is currently playing for Real Madrid in Spain. Chicago has been touting the Spanish big man as one of the big missing pieces in their championship puzzle, so it’s not at all surprising to see them getting more and more aggressive in wanting to bring him to America and to the United Center.

But the Bulls are in an interesting period of their franchise’s history as with Derrick Rose out for the season and contracts expiring at the end of the season, there’s hope among the fans base that the front office will spend big in the offseason to boost the team’s quality overall. According to ESPN Chicago reporter Nick Friedell, bringing Mirotic over from Spain would count as the big offseason move.

This will come as a disappointment to fans hoping to see the Bulls spend in the offseason but as those who have been paying attention know, the Bulls don’t spend and Jerry Reinsdorf is already planning for that.

Bringing Mirotic over and inserting his gigantic frame into Tom Thibodeau’s defensive schemes is no doubt an awesome idea, but it’s discouraging that this is already being used as an out when it comes to finding free agent help. The Bulls aren’t in the market to make a big, splashy move and never have been it seems, but fans — and even Derrick Rose — aren’t looking at a rebuilding phase with much enthusiasm.

Still, making Mirotic their big offseason move means the Bulls are serious about finally bringing the Spaniard over to the NBA and if that’s all that happens this offseason, at least it’ll be better than the previous two offseasons.