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Mirotic, Hinrich set to sign with Bulls

The Bulls brought back a familiar face Sunday, agreeing to contract terms with veteran guard Kirk Hinrich.

But a lesser-known new addition might be the one worth watching. The Bulls also came to an agreement with 6-10 forward Nikola Mirotic, their 2011 draft pick who has been playing with Real Madrid.

Mirotic, 23, is one of those multiskilled big men who can shoot from the outside, put the ball on the floor and move well for his size. He's a two-time winner of the EuroLeague rising star award, given to the best player under 23.

Mirotic tweeted his plans to play for the Bulls on Sunday afternoon and also released a letter (in Spanish) to Real Madrid fans. He'll reportedly sign a three-year deal worth $17 million.

The Montenegro native averaged 12.4 points and shot 46 percent from 3-point range in EuroLeague play last season. Real Madrid finished second in both the EuroLeague and Spanish ACB league.

The Bulls have yet to officially amnesty Carlos Boozer, but that move should be coming soon. They'll use the cap space created by the amnesty, and the trade of Greg Smith to Dallas, to sign Mirotic and former Lakers power forward Pau Gasol. Hinrich will sign a two-year deal using the "room" midlevel exception of $2.7 million.

The Bulls' roster is filling up, with Gasol, Mirotic, Hinrich, Derrick Rose, Jimmy Butler, Mike Dunleavy, Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson, Doug McDermott, Tony Snell, Anthony Randolph and second-round draft pick Cameron Bairstow giving them 12 players under contract. They're in need of at least one more guard.

Meanwhile, ex-Bulls forward Luol Deng made an interesting move Sunday, agreeing to a two-year deal worth $20 million with the Miami Heat. Deng essentially becomes LeBron James replacement.

Before being traded to Cleveland in January, Deng turned down a three-year, $30 million offer from the Bulls and talked about it as though it were insulting. In reality, it was probably the right time for Deng to leave after minor friction with management seemed to add up over the years.

Guard D.J. Augustin, a valuable pickup for the Bulls last season, will not return. He reportedly agreed to a two-year, $6 million deal with the Detroit Pistons.

McDermott stars in summer league

Rookie Doug McDermott poured in 31 points and Tony Snell added 23 as the Bulls rolled to an easy win in their second game at the Las Vegas summer league. The Bulls drained 19 of 36 shots from 3-point range as a team in a 103-76 victory over Denver.

McDermott knocked down 5 of 9 attempts from 3-point range and all 12 of his free throws. Snell was 5-for-12 from long range, while guard Austin Freeman from Georgetown hit 4 of 6 behind the arc for 14 points.

  Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich (12) is pulled back by official Bill Spooner after he got into it with Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) during Tuesday's game at the United Center in Chicago. Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com
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