CHICAGO -- Andres Nocioni agreed to a five-year deal to
return to the Chicago Bulls, and there is a team option for a sixth
year.
Nocioni
"He's glad to be back," George Bass, Nocioni's agent, said
Friday. "We've been very aggressively working on it."
The deal officially cannot be signed before July 11. Financial
terms were not available, but the Chicago Tribune reported it was
for approximately $38 million. Nocioni was a restricted free agent
who had drawn the attention of the Memphis Grizzlies.
Nocioni, a 6-foot-7 forward who has been a standout performer
for the Argentine national team and also played in Europe,
originally was signed by the Bulls as a free agent on Aug. 11,
2004.
He averaged 14.1 points and 5.7 rebounds during this past
regular season but was limited to 53 games -- 31 starts -- by plantar
fasciitis in his right foot.
Known for his hustle, aggressive defense and an improved 3-point
shot, the 27-year-old Nocioni averaged 8.8 points in 10 playoff
games. The Bulls swept the Miami Heat in the first round before
being ousted by the Detroit Pistons in six games in the Eastern
Conference semifinals.