Woj: "Bulls to be a factor in July"

[sco]

Woj hasn't been right about Bulls free agency yet. Don't know why he would start being right now.

Woj has been right to know that we Bulls fans eat this sh*t up and talk about it non-stop = smart media pundit!

[jacoby1us]

Unless we can somehow get Leonard from the Spurs in a mega S&T, I just don't see us being a factor. We dont have as many assets as the 76ers nor Celtics so that idea is kinda outta of the window when it comes to breaking down the Spurs negotiations. I dont see the Bulls being real players this free agency, and I dont see Paxson wasting money just because we have it.

[ATRAIN53]

His latest WOJ pod was just an interview with Donovan Mitchell, so nothing to report there.
(except Donovan is awesome and I'm excited to watch this kid the next decade)

I think this is more WOJ banter than a WOJ bomb. Basically a "Chicago is a a big city and has cap space, they could be a factor" or more as we saw in 2010 - even used as leverage.

I'd rather pay Zach 25 mil a year than JJ Reddick.
I like JJ but he's 33 and strictly a SG who can't dunk. He's a luxury spot up shooter for a team on the verge like Philly.
4 years ago he would have been a nice building block, but not now.

He'll stay in PHILA unless someone offers him more guaranteed years, he said that on his podcast.
He was ticketed for HOU last year but they only offered 2 years. He wanted more - but he is great friends with CP3 and Morey wants to beat the Warriors. I bet they are talking already.

McBuckets is a UFA and he could be a poor mans Reddick/Korver.
They believed in him big time at one point!

[Peelboy]

1. Woj seems to be saying that Bulls can be players because they are deemed to have a lot of young talent to go with cap space. I.e., regardless of the view hereabouts, around the league they are viewed a lot more positively. That seems to be an unalloyed good.

2. He also seems to be saying that Bulls are open to being players in FA in a sneaky way, i.e., targeted and under the radar. This seems to fit a lot more with "if we find guys that fit our timeline and pricing" than a "we are spending like drunken sailors on leave." This again is a GOOD thing. The market is supposed to be down, taking advantage of it to get solid to very good young players on value deals is a good plan. Then suddenly you have assets that you can package in bigger moves.

The only way it's bad is if you think a) Woj is wrong and the league thinks Bulls don't have good young talent (essentially you know better than Woj), and/or b) the Bulls are going to overspend on mediocre players when they don't have to (no real evidence that's the case).

[MrSparkle]

Well, as I always say... I realize it's a hopeless shot going for a superstar in FA, but it's still a good thing to be in position to offer KD a max contract and a solid supporting cast, with room to improve next year. The Bulls rebuild is many years away, but getting an MVP would accelerate growth and development. It's actually a good fit on paper. Of course, part of it is you destroy GSW's invincibility by taking their best player.

So talking hopeless hypotheticals...

Kawhi wouldn't have that type of impact (KD) as a plug-in for Chicago - we'd hit the wall. Old Lebron would, but his age is a thing now. Chicago makes no sense for him - unlike 2010, he really needs star help now. We have too many defensive duds and guys who will hide in their shell without the ball in their hands. First decline sign for me is LBJ misses a lot of lay-ups in the paint in these playoffs. That efficiency is gonna further drop the next 2 years. He's still a monster, and I kind of laugh at the "Durant's surpassed him" mantra, because in my eyes they're currently even, with Lebron having the play-making edge, while KD is younger with better defense and a more killer 3P shot. But KD's got a whole 3 years (less) on Lebron, with hilariously better teammates.

Lebron's arguably playing the best ball of his life right now (personally, I prefer this more intelligent and skilled perimeter game, as opposed to his young days of just showcasing his power/athleticism and dunking everything left and right with stud teammates while also getting the benefit of the calls). But to topple the GSW empire which has 4 All-NBA players who gel, he straight-up needs an all-star PG like Lillard/Kyrie/Curry and a secondary all-star wing who can relieve his defensive duties and play iso for 10-20 mpg to give Lebron a break. So unless Trae drops to #8, pans out/develops fast, and George, Butler or Kawhi find themselves in CLE, I don't see LBJ ever beating these Warriors again, unless he joins the Rockets and they somehow balance a $180m payroll. Even then, if I'm Lebron, I seriously worry about CP3's durability, especially if he's demanding a max deal at his age while having missing big playoff games the last 4 years of his career. All the alternative ideas are balogne unless LAL manages to finagle the cap-room for both PG13 and LBJ.

[ChiCitySPORTS#1]

If we get a center via the draft, and especially a guy like Bamba -- I'd throw some money at Jabari Parker to fill the void at 3. I think he can come cheap.

[ChiCitySPORTS#1]

Capella is gonna be one sad story for whoever maxes him.

Along with Cousins, for opposite reasons.

Yeah Capella is going to be a bad signing. It's coming. His game is so exaggerated being on that Rockets team. All he does is get open dunks. Kudos to him, but reality will settle in if he signs with a team that sucks.

[TheFinishSniper]

Capella is gonna be one sad story for whoever maxes him.

Along with Cousins, for opposite reasons.

Yeah Capella is going to be a bad signing. It's coming. His game is so exaggerated being on that Rockets team. All he does is get open dunks. Kudos to him, but reality will settle in if he signs with a team that sucks.

Biyombo of 2018. Can't wait to see who will make Magic movie. Which GM is so stupid. It's fun to discover this things. More unpredictable than NBA finals last few years

[micromonkey]

I checked with my inside sources (bleacher report and some other untrustable forums)--got the scoop--but only if you don't want the surprise spoiled!

Spoiler:

Chicago is going to have a HUGE celebration on the fourth day of that month.
The brass is gonna show potential FAs how big we do it in Chi-town!

UPDATE: I also heard they might be throwing in a booze cruise on the Odyssey as well!

Wow--just wow--they are pulling out all the stops!

Jokes aside I can tell you what they won't be doing:
Player level recruiting, tweeting about it or leaking information.

[bad knees]

I strongly doubt that the Bulls will be significant players in FA this summer. My guess is that word has come down from management that the salary floor - about $91 M - is a hard cap for the Bulls. The salary floor is what the Bulls must spend on player salaries. Anything more comes directly out of ownership's pockets. And until the Bulls demonstrate that they are "worth it" - meaning that they are capable of bringing in playoff revenue - I can't see our ownership paying a single dime more than what they have to pay.

We saw this attitude manifested during the last draft in the Bell pick sale. We saw it last summer when the Bulls did not participate in selling their cap space for future first round picks. We saw how they used their cap space last year to keep just below the salary floor until the end, when they signed Kilpatrick to put them just at the salary floor. We just heard that the Bulls did not participate in the World combine because it cost $10,000. I expect the next thing that we will hear is that the Bulls did not participate in the Nugs efforts to auction off the 14th pick to whoever will take Faried's salary (and probably the salary of others). And then we will see nothing of consequence of FA. Finally, we will see that the Bulls stay below the salary floor this year just like they did last year.

Very frustrating.

[League Circles]

I strongly doubt that the Bulls will be significant players in FA this summer. My guess is that word has come down from management that the salary floor - about $91 M - is a hard cap for the Bulls. The salary floor is what the Bulls must spend on player salaries. Anything more comes directly out of ownership's pockets. And until the Bulls demonstrate that they are "worth it" - meaning that they are capable of bringing in playoff revenue - I can't see our ownership paying a single dime more than what they have to pay.

We saw this attitude manifested during the last draft in the Bell pick sale. We saw it last summer when the Bulls did not participate in selling their cap space for future first round picks. We saw how they used their cap space last year to keep just below the salary floor until the end, when they signed Kilpatrick to put them just at the salary floor. We just heard that the Bulls did not participate in the World combine because it cost $10,000. I expect the next thing that we will hear is that the Bulls did not participate in the Nugs efforts to auction off the 14th pick to whoever will take Faried's salary (and probably the salary of others). And then we will see nothing of consequence of FA. Finally, we will see that the Bulls stay below the salary floor this year just like they did last year.

Very frustrating.

With the exception of last season, the Bulls have typically spent the MOST allowed, so not sure why you would think they would stay at the floor. Last year was a rare case of true tanking. That won't be the case next season most likely.

[bad knees]

I strongly doubt that the Bulls will be significant players in FA this summer. My guess is that word has come down from management that the salary floor - about $91 M - is a hard cap for the Bulls. The salary floor is what the Bulls must spend on player salaries. Anything more comes directly out of ownership's pockets. And until the Bulls demonstrate that they are "worth it" - meaning that they are capable of bringing in playoff revenue - I can't see our ownership paying a single dime more than what they have to pay.

We saw this attitude manifested during the last draft in the Bell pick sale. We saw it last summer when the Bulls did not participate in selling their cap space for future first round picks. We saw how they used their cap space last year to keep just below the salary floor until the end, when they signed Kilpatrick to put them just at the salary floor. We just heard that the Bulls did not participate in the World combine because it cost $10,000. I expect the next thing that we will hear is that the Bulls did not participate in the Nugs efforts to auction off the 14th pick to whoever will take Faried's salary (and probably the salary of others). And then we will see nothing of consequence of FA. Finally, we will see that the Bulls stay below the salary floor this year just like they did last year.

Very frustrating.

With the exception of last season, the Bulls have typically spent the MOST allowed, so not sure why you would think they would stay at the floor. Last year was a rare case of true tanking. That won't be the case next season most likely.

That's when the Bulls were making the playoffs. I don't see it happening this year or until they make the playoffs again. Time will tell.

I spend too much time thinking about what the Bulls could do with the Nugs pick. It will be enlightening if that pick gets sold to some other team with cap space, and we hear that the Bulls did not even participate in the auction. Gotta maintain that salary cap flexibility, don't you know.

[contestedlayups]

Nerlens Noel and Rodney Hood?

[Drellberg]

This thread lacks imagination. There are are so many things that could go DOwn in July that have nothing to do with signing a max free agent.

[musiqsoulchild]

Paxson has mentioned players fitting "our timeline" quite a bit in recent interviews. So thinking about what he could be thinking..

Players potentially here for 5+ years:

PG - Dunn/Payne
SG - Lavine/Nwaba
SF - 2018 Pelicans pick/Denzel
PF - Lauri/Bobbi
C - 2018 Bulls pick/Felicio

Currently useful veterans: Lopez, Holiday

Fringe: Grant, Kilpatrick, Asik, Zipser, Vonleh, Arcidiacono, Blakeney

So maybe a free agent in age range of the first group?

Hence, someone like an Iggy / Batum.

You trade for them by taking on more years of salary and move away from the crap ton of "fringe players" on this team to adding another "currently useful veteran"

[musiqsoulchild]

I strongly doubt that the Bulls will be significant players in FA this summer. My guess is that word has come down from management that the salary floor - about $91 M - is a hard cap for the Bulls. The salary floor is what the Bulls must spend on player salaries. Anything more comes directly out of ownership's pockets. And until the Bulls demonstrate that they are "worth it" - meaning that they are capable of bringing in playoff revenue - I can't see our ownership paying a single dime more than what they have to pay.

We saw this attitude manifested during the last draft in the Bell pick sale. We saw it last summer when the Bulls did not participate in selling their cap space for future first round picks. We saw how they used their cap space last year to keep just below the salary floor until the end, when they signed Kilpatrick to put them just at the salary floor. We just heard that the Bulls did not participate in the World combine because it cost $10,000. I expect the next thing that we will hear is that the Bulls did not participate in the Nugs efforts to auction off the 14th pick to whoever will take Faried's salary (and probably the salary of others). And then we will see nothing of consequence of FA. Finally, we will see that the Bulls stay below the salary floor this year just like they did last year.

Very frustrating.

Now lets ask ourselves, how far away logically is the hypothetical that the ownership group might just say to the FO:

Make the playoffs.

[bad knees]

I strongly doubt that the Bulls will be significant players in FA this summer. My guess is that word has come down from management that the salary floor - about $91 M - is a hard cap for the Bulls. The salary floor is what the Bulls must spend on player salaries. Anything more comes directly out of ownership's pockets. And until the Bulls demonstrate that they are "worth it" - meaning that they are capable of bringing in playoff revenue - I can't see our ownership paying a single dime more than what they have to pay.

We saw this attitude manifested during the last draft in the Bell pick sale. We saw it last summer when the Bulls did not participate in selling their cap space for future first round picks. We saw how they used their cap space last year to keep just below the salary floor until the end, when they signed Kilpatrick to put them just at the salary floor. We just heard that the Bulls did not participate in the World combine because it cost $10,000. I expect the next thing that we will hear is that the Bulls did not participate in the Nugs efforts to auction off the 14th pick to whoever will take Faried's salary (and probably the salary of others). And then we will see nothing of consequence of FA. Finally, we will see that the Bulls stay below the salary floor this year just like they did last year.

Very frustrating.

Now lets ask ourselves, how far away logically is the hypothetical that the ownership group might just say to the FO:

Make the playoffs.

I agree. Makes me think that it is likely that the Bulls take WCJ at 7 and a SF at 22, and call it a day. WCJ is the best way back to the playoffs for this team - he'll win you a lot of regular season games, but in the playoffs his foot speed will be exposed as a weakness when teams start to focus on weaknesses like they always do.

[poolshark52]

A lineup of Dunn, Smart, Nwaba, Lauri and Lopez would be awesome - a bunch of bulldogs plus the babyfaced killed Lauri.
.

Lots of games where the final score would be 80-70 with the bulls losing.

[kulaz3000]

A lineup of Dunn, Smart, Nwaba, Lauri and Lopez would be awesome - a bunch of bulldogs plus the babyfaced killed Lauri.
.

Lots of games where the final score would be 80-70 with the bulls losing.

Didn't say we'd win lots of games, I'd just imagine the games would be dogfights.

[poolshark52]

The difference I see is the bench. It's not the single skill guys that Lebron has had, Portis can shoot and rebound, play defense,

Are we talking about the same Bobby Portis that is currently on the bulls?