Chicago Bulls Forward Nikola Mirotic Told the Team He Wants to Leave If Bobby Portis Stays
Chicago Bulls teammates Nikola Mirotić and Bobby Portis were supposed to compete for the starting power forward role this season, but things got a little out of hand. The two were involved in a physical altercation at practice before the start of the season and Mirotić had to be taken to a hospital after Portis threw a punch that landed on his face.
Mirotić suffered a concussion and multiple facial fractures because of the punch, and he may have to undergo surgery once the concussion symptoms go away. The Bulls have already handed Portis an eight-game suspension and he has apologized for his role in the fight.
But can the two of them co-exist as teammates after what happened? Well, Mirotić doesn't seem to think so, and he has reportedly given the Bulls an ultimatum.
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According to Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, Mirotić has asked the Bulls to choose between him and Portis because he doesn't want to stay in Chicago if Portis is on the roster.
The Montenegrin–Spanish forward signed a two-year, $27-million contract with the Bulls this summer and he has a no-trade clause in the first-year of the deal. However, NBC Sports' Vincent Goodwill has reported that he's willing to waive his no-trade clause if the Bulls opt to keep Portis.
Since Mirotić was a free agent this summer, he could not be traded until Jan. 15 at the earliest.
"We understand what he's going through. We have to be patient. It's not something that's going to be resolved overnight. We're going to continue to communicate with Niko and his representatives and find our way through this. It's very important for us to do what's in our best interest," Bulls executive vice president John Paxson said in a recent press conference, via NBA.com.
"We've reached out to Niko. Our medical staff is in contact with him every day. We want to get him back," he added.
