NBA: 10 relative unknowns entering defining seasons in 2017-18
9. Nikola Mirotic
Nikola Mirotic is already 26 years old, but since he’s only been in the NBA for three seasons, his place in the league is still a mystery. It’s no wonder, then, that he and the Chicago Bulls‘ contract negotiations remain at a standstill for his restricted free agency.
More than likely, Mirotic will play out the 2017-18 season on his $7.2 million qualifying offer, but even with a new deal in hand, it’s hard to tell where this underwhelming stretch-4 belongs in this league.
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The problem with Mirotic — aside from his career 35 percent shooting from 3-point range when that was supposed to be his calling card — is his consistency. One night he’d drop 20 and look like the stretch-4 Chicago had been waiting for, and the next, he’d completely disappear.
Mirotic is not a bad player, and someone will pick him up if he and the Bulls part ways. The only question is whether he can ever improve upon numbers that have hovered around the same 10.2 points and 4.9 rebounds per game on .405/.350/.798 shooting splits he posted as a rookie.