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UPDATE 1:11PM MT 6/29/2019
The Utah Jazz were evidently the frontrunners for Nikola Mirotic’s services. Marc Stein reported that Utah had anticipated to offer a 3 year deal in the range of $45MM to the stretch Power Forward. Obviously, that won’t happen now. Utah’s front office is going to have to pivot and make more drastic moves if they want a power forward of Mirotic’s abilities or better. Luckily, free agency doesn’t start until tomorrow so Utah has ample time to pivot. Who they pivot to will prove to be interesting.
Utah had major interest in signing Nikola Mirotic to a three-year deal in the $45 million range, league sources say, but Mirotic was apparently determined to make a total change and return to @EuroLeague life
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 29, 2019
Less valuable stretch fours could get overpaid and now Love's contract may feel like more of a bargain as a result. INFLATION'S A HELLUVA DRUG
— Mychal Lowman (@My_Lo) June 29, 2019
Nikola Mirotic provided the NBA another curveball today as he decided to sign with FC Barcelona according to Shams Charania.
NBA free agent Nikola Mirotic has decided to sign with Euroleague club Barcelona, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium. Mirotic was in the market for $45-50M total in contract in the NBA.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 29, 2019
Nikola Mirotic was a big time target of many NBA teams—including the Utah Jazz. The evergreen Utah Jazz target is now officially off the market for the foreseeable future. This one makes no sense and makes Utah’s ability to improve this offseason with a stretch four a lot more complicated. Mirotic could have made more money in the states, but with being traded twice in two years, it appears Mirotic just wanted to find a place to call his own and stay.
This may open up the trade market for Kevin Love quite a bit. Utah said they wanted to be aggressive and now Utah’s remaining options may require them to take some bigger risks whether that means sign and trades or trying to move salary to increase cap room. Not a great start to the Utah Jazz offseason.