The Chicago Bulls have had initial discussions with Darko Milicic's camp, according to his agent, Marc Cornstein.
Yahoo! Sports first reported Wednesday that the Miami Heat, Los Angeles Clippers, Brooklyn Nets and Bulls were the front-runners for Milicic's services, according to a source.
Cornstein confirmed the Bulls' interest to ESPNChicago, indicating that he was trying to explore different landing spots for his client. Milicic was amnestied by the Minnesota Timberwolves last week.
The timing of the Bulls' interest is curious given they are going to have to decide on Omer Asik's future in the coming days. Asik agreed to a three-year offer sheet with the Houston Rockets earlier this month and plans to sign it later this week.
The Houston Chronicle reported Wednesday that the Rockets have waived Jon Leuer and Jerome Jordan, clearing the way for Asik to sign the offer sheet. Once it becomes official, the Bulls will have three days to decide to match.
If the Bulls match the Asik offer sheet, they would be on the hook for an almost $15 million cap hit in the final year of the deal. That would severely limit them in a summer in which Luol Deng comes off the books and Carlos Boozer figures to be amnestied.
Bulls officials have not made any public statement regarding Asik, continually saying they wouldn't until they saw the official offer sheet. It appears they are about to be on the clock. If they choose not to match, Millicic will be an option.
The No. 2 pick of the 2003 NBA draft by the Detroit Pistons, Milicic has averaged 6.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks over nine seasons with five teams.
