NBA: Bulls closing in on Mirotic

The Chicago Bulls are closer to adding European star forward Nikola Mirotic, according to ESPN.com.

The Bulls traded for Mirotic's draft rights in 2011 when he was the No. 23 overall pick. Since then, he has developed into one of the top forwards in Europe.

Mirotic, a 6-foot-10 sharpshooter, secured a $3 million buyout Thursday from his European team, Real Madrid, to join the NBA.

The Bulls need to make roster moves to make space for Mirotic. However, because he was drafted three years ago, he is not subject to the NBA's rookie salary-cap scale. The Bulls will likely pay for part of the 23-year-old's buyout and sign him to a multi-year deal.

The Bulls can pay for up to $600,000 toward Mirotic's buyout. Any amount over that is considered a signing bonus and counts toward their salary cap.

The Bulls are also pursuing free agent forwards Carmelo Anthony and Pau Gasol. If the Bulls add Mirotic, they would need to do a sign-and-trade deal involving forward Carlos Boozer to get Anthony from the New York Knicks. That would require the Knicks to agree to the deal.

Anthony is expected to decide on his future over the weekend. The free agent has met with five teams. The Knicks reportedly offered him a maximum deal of five years and $129 million.

The Bulls plan to get rid of Boozer's contract either by trade or via the one-time amnesty provision. - Reuters