Former Milwaukee Bucks forward Nikola Mirotic shocked much of the league and front offices when early in the NBA's free agency period he decided to sign with FC Barcelona, a European club playing in the Spanish professional league. Reportedly, from Eurohoops.net, the 28-year-old sharpshooter had multiple offers on the table from NBA teams, including the Chicago Bulls, before choosing Barcelona for three years, €26 million.

“He had an offer from two NBA teams. I know the Bulls gave him some 45,0000,000 [sic] gross. Normally, when a player of this caliber returns to Europe despite this offer, everyone wonders if he’s coming back just for the money. He has a contract fitting for his quality but those figures that are reported are speculation, not to say lies. The guy is European-oriented, he and his family bought a house in Barcelona,” Pesic said to the TV show “In the Hoop,” per Mozzart Sport.

Mirotic spent five years in the Association; he was drafted in 2011 by the Houston Rockets with the 23rd overall pick and eventually made his debut for the Bulls in the 2014-15 season. After a practice fight with fellow Bulls forward Bobby Portis left the Spanish-Montenegrin with a concussion, his relationship with the Bulls organization deteriorated. Chicago sent Mirotic to the New Orleans Pelicans for a 2018 first-round pick.

Mirotic then played 62 games for the Pelicans across one-plus seasons, later being traded to the Eastern Conference–contending Bucks for four second-round picks.

Reportedly, Mirotic had a similar offer from the Utah Jazz at $45 million for three years but turned down another shot in the NBA to go back home to Europe.