Arturas Karnisovas watched former Chicago Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic

During a recent trip to watch international basketball, Chicago Bulls POBO Arturas Karnisovas got to watch Nikola Mirotic play.

The current iteration of the Chicago Bulls roster is a middle-of-the-pack team built to compete for a Play-In spot and not much more. That said, it’s far superior to some of the teams Chicago was rolling out in the mid-to-late-2010s. For years, Chicago was a staple at the bottom of the standings, with players cycling in and out every season.

But just because the teams were bad doesn’t mean all the players were. In fact, some have gone on to have solid careers elsewhere, including overseas. Nikola Mirotic, a headliner for the rebuilding Bulls, is a legend on the international stage, and it seems like the current Chicago front office is keeping tabs.

According to Daniel Greenberg (@ChiSportUpdates), Bulls President of Basketball Operations Arturas Karnisovas is currently overseas watching the playoffs of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. One of the games he spectated featured Mirotic.

Mirotic currently plays for Barcelona, who took on Real Madrid in the playoffs. Karnisovas, who also had success on the international stage, played for Barcelona from 2000 to 2002.

Obviously, the likelihood that Karnisovas was in attendance purely to watch Mirotic is slim. He was most likely there for his own enjoyment or to scout younger players. At 32 years old and comfortably playing overseas, it’s highly unlikely that Mirotic would return to the NBA.

In 51 games with Barcelona this year, Mitoric has averaged 14.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists on 48.5% shooting from the field and 37.6% shooting from behind the three-point line.

It’s fun to see former Bulls players thriving elsewhere.

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Bobby Portis highlighted a big difference between Draymond Green’s fight and the one that got him suspended

Portis was suspended eight games in 2017 for punching a teammate.

If the Golden State Warriors wanted to suspend Draymond Green for punching teammate Jordan Poole during a recent practice, there would have been precedent for it.

It was only five years ago that Milwaukee Bucks center Bobby Portis was suspended eight games for punching former Chicago Bulls teammate Nikola Mirotic at a practice.

The Warriors are choosing to handle their matter internally — though that could presumably change after video of the altercation leaked Friday — but Portis made it known on Twitter that the two situations aren’t at all alike. In fact, Green’s punch on Poole is probably worse if Portis’ claim of self-defense is true.

If someone wanted to make a case for suspension against Green, this would be the one. Though Portis’ punch left Mirotic hospitalized with facial fractures, he was reportedly defending himself against someone who was the aggressor. And that got him an eight-game ban.

In the video of Golden State’s practice, Green was the aggressor. He approached Poole first, before being shoved and punching back. That’s totally different than what was described in Portis’ altercation.

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Basketball you can watch today: Nikola Mirotic vs. Euro powerhouse, draft prospect Deni Avdija and more

There’s nothing like NBA basketball, but if you want to get your hoop fix somehow there are some pro competitions underway around the world with a bunch of players you will recognize. These are today’s contests in Spain, Germany, Israel and China. …

There’s nothing like NBA basketball, but if you want to get your hoop fix somehow there are some pro competitions underway around the world with a bunch of players you will recognize.

These are today’s contests in Spain, Germany, Israel and China. All times Eastern. In parentheses, streams where you can watch the games.

SPAIN

9:30 am: Tenerife vs. Bilbao Basket (FTF Next)
Players of NBA interest: Former Laker Marcelinho Huertas, Wizards draftee Aaron White (Nets own his NBA rights), Hornets draftee Arnoldas Kulboka, draft prospect Dino Radoncic, potential free agent target Ondrej Balvin

12:30 am: Joventut vs. Unicaja (FTF Next)
Players of NBA interest: Draft prospects Arturs Zagars, Nenad Dimitrijevic, Joel Parra, former Maverick Gal Mekel, potential free agent targets Klemen Prepelic and Axel Bouteille

3:30 pm: FC Barcelona vs. Baskonia (FTF Next)
Players of NBA interest: Former NBA players Nikola Mirotic, Cory Higgins, Tornike Shengelia and Zoran Dragic, draft prospect Leandro Bolmaro

GERMANY

10:30 am: Ulm vs. Ludwigsburg
Players of NBA interest: Former Sun Archie Goodwin, Magic draftee Tyler Harvey (Grizzlies own his NBA rights), draft prospect Ariel Hukporti

ISRAEL

12:00 pm: Maccabi Tel Aviv vs. Maccabi Ashdod (Winners League TV)
Players of NBA interest: Draft prospect Deni Avdija, former NBA players Omri Casspi, Tyler Dorsey and Quincy Acy, potential free agent targets Elijah Brown and Scottie Wilbekin

12:10 pm: Hapoel Beer Sheva vs. Hapoel Holon (Winners League TV)

12:10 pm: Maccabi Haifa vs. Hapoel Tel Aviv (Winners League TV)
Players of NBA interest: Draft prospect Yam Madar, former Nugget Jordan Hamilton, potential free agent target Reggie Upshaw

2:10 pm: Hapoel Jerusalem vs. Maccabi Rishon (Winners League TV)
Players of NBA interest: Pistons draftee Deividas Servydis, former NBA players Jeremy Pargo, John Holland and Emanuel Terry, potential free agent target Alex Hamilton

CHINA

3:30 am: Zhejiang Lions vs. Shanghai Sharks (Youku)
Players of NBA interest: Former King Ray McCallum

4:00 am: Shandong Heroes vs. Tianjin Pioneers (Youku)

7:35 am: Guangzhou Long-Lions vs. Bayi Rockets (Youku)
Players of NBA interest: Former Timberwolf Marcus Georges-Hunt

8:00 am: Beijing Royal Fighters vs. Fujian Sturgeons (Youku)
Players of NBA interest: Former Nugget Ty Lawson, Grizzlies draftee Wang Zhelin

11:00 pm: Nanjing Monkey Kings vs. Qingdao Eagles (Youku)
Players of NBA interest: Former Pacer Joseph Young, former Grizzly Hamed Haddadi