Bulls trade for cash, waive MCW + Brooks

[P.C.]

Haha, it's not clear to me whether you are agreeing with me or angry about this move. I also don't exactly get the laundry analogy although I do know what that means in a sports context.

I am fine with the deal in isolation but I think it’s part of a very, very problematic trend. The money is not being used to offset salary. The Bulls just cut MCW so it’s a payment and not a favor.

I think your point that the Bulls probably couldn’t get much for a million is fair, and it’s probably better to grab cash and reinvest it in that scenario. The problematic part is that this seems like one of many instances where the Bulls are aiming short and looking at an immediate bottom line instead of team value, ticket sales and station rights if they actually pulled together a good product. I would take that back if operations gets to keep the money for spending in free agency or on another pick — that doesn’t feel consistent with what we’ve seen from the team lately.

The White Sox thing is something to keep an eye on. I went back maybe a year ago and was able to find close to a one to one White Sox signing within a week when the Bulls sell an asset. It’s enough to raise questions.

Not sure what you mean about money not being used to offset salary. Money is not transactionally specific. It's all just money.

What does the bolded part mean? What is meant by "the" money. Do you believe the Bulls make free agency decisions based on where money came from the previous year? I don't think there's any logic or evidence to support that.

It's not that they couldnt fetch "much" for a million, it's that they couldn't fetch ANYTHING. NOTHING of basketball value is available for trade in this league for a million bucks. Nothing. Second round picks are clearly the lowest positive value asset, and they go for like 3 million.

It just seems extremely arbitrary to itemize this million as problematic considering the team profits like 100 million/year, are typically over the salary cap on an annual basis, including this year (pretty sure last season's tanking effort was the only year the team has EVER been under the cap).

Ultimately IMO, you either need to rip them for taking any profit whatsoever, which is futile, unreasonable and unprecedented, or, you need to realize that money is money, and there is no more special meaning to this million than there is to any random million bucks worth of hot dogs sold at the UC.

Again, the Bulls didn't sell an asset here unless you want to be unbelievably obtuse. If they finish as a top 5 team next year, they'll very gladly and proudly wipe their ass with their worthless end-of-2nd round pick, and that's the only scenario here where they "sell an asset".

My point was that the since MCW was cut before his contract was guaranteed the Bulls netted 1M. This is not a situation where the Rockets sent money to cover MCW’s salary for the rest of the season and the Bulls broke even. The Bulls came out ahead.

Money is not situationally specific but budgets are. I do believe that the Bulls enter seasons with a target roster payroll. Part of the drama from the movie moneyball was a Billy Beane demanding from ownership that he get to “keep the money” for his roster when he sells a player in the future.

A high second round draft pick went for 3M after the Bulls drafted a player a particular team was high on. I imagine that low seconds are much less valuable. What’s wrong with taking a flyer on a draft and stash? Your point also fails due to your argument that money isn’t transaction specific. 1M can always be combined with 19M to sign Jabari Parker.

[ThreeMileAllan]

To any one claiming the Reinsdorf cannot take capital from the Bulls and move it to the White Sox, there is no basis to make that statement. Yes there are two separate ownership groups, but we have no idea how the corporate documents are drafted, or the leanings of the other shareholders.

It is completely conceivable (and honestly not unlikely) that Reinsdorf would have the power and good will to remove capital from the Bulls and reinvest his portion of that capital in the White Sox. So when we see the White Sox spend in free agency repeatedly and immediately after the Bulls sell an asset it should raise questions.

Dude, I cant believe that we are having this conversation still after a few people chimed in and said it wasnt really possible. Or if it was, it would be poor business decision making.

Maybe someone should write into Sam Smith and ask him to do a deep dive so we dont have to hear my fellow White Sox fans blather on about ridiculous financial theories

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[League Circles]

I am fine with the deal in isolation but I think it’s part of a very, very problematic trend. The money is not being used to offset salary. The Bulls just cut MCW so it’s a payment and not a favor.

I think your point that the Bulls probably couldn’t get much for a million is fair, and it’s probably better to grab cash and reinvest it in that scenario. The problematic part is that this seems like one of many instances where the Bulls are aiming short and looking at an immediate bottom line instead of team value, ticket sales and station rights if they actually pulled together a good product. I would take that back if operations gets to keep the money for spending in free agency or on another pick — that doesn’t feel consistent with what we’ve seen from the team lately.

The White Sox thing is something to keep an eye on. I went back maybe a year ago and was able to find close to a one to one White Sox signing within a week when the Bulls sell an asset. It’s enough to raise questions.

Not sure what you mean about money not being used to offset salary. Money is not transactionally specific. It's all just money.

What does the bolded part mean? What is meant by "the" money. Do you believe the Bulls make free agency decisions based on where money came from the previous year? I don't think there's any logic or evidence to support that.

It's not that they couldnt fetch "much" for a million, it's that they couldn't fetch ANYTHING. NOTHING of basketball value is available for trade in this league for a million bucks. Nothing. Second round picks are clearly the lowest positive value asset, and they go for like 3 million.

It just seems extremely arbitrary to itemize this million as problematic considering the team profits like 100 million/year, are typically over the salary cap on an annual basis, including this year (pretty sure last season's tanking effort was the only year the team has EVER been under the cap).

Ultimately IMO, you either need to rip them for taking any profit whatsoever, which is futile, unreasonable and unprecedented, or, you need to realize that money is money, and there is no more special meaning to this million than there is to any random million bucks worth of hot dogs sold at the UC.

Again, the Bulls didn't sell an asset here unless you want to be unbelievably obtuse. If they finish as a top 5 team next year, they'll very gladly and proudly wipe their ass with their worthless end-of-2nd round pick, and that's the only scenario here where they "sell an asset".

My point was that the since MCW was cut before his contract was guaranteed the Bulls netted 1M. This is not a situation where the Rockets sent money to cover MCW’s salary for the rest of the season and the Bulls broke even. The Bulls came out ahead.

Money is not situationally specific but budgets are. I do believe that the Bulls enter seasons with a target roster payroll. Part of the drama from the movie moneyball was a Billy Beane demanding from ownership that he get to “keep the money” for his roster when he sells a player in the future.

A high second round draft pick went for 3M after the Bulls drafted a player a particular team was high on. I imagine that low seconds are much less valuable. What’s wrong with taking a flyer on a draft and stash? Your point also fails due to your argument that money isn’t transaction specific. 1M can always be combined with 19M to sign Jabari Parker.

Let me know when you see a 2nd rounder sold for a million bucks. And then tell me why you weren't pissed that we didn't get 100 of them every year with our 100 mil annual profit. My point is, why is THIS million any more important to you than the other 99 million they keep every year rather than spend?

I don't believe the Bulls operate on a target payroll mindset, because I don't think that makes any sense to. They should and do evaluate each opportunity as it arises IMO. Dumping Holiday was an opportunity to get two second round picks. This deal was an opportunity to make a million bucks.

Regarding your last sentence, the Bulls always have drastically, drastically more money available than they could possibly spend under the CBA.

As most businesses do, the Bulls operate to maximize a balance between short and long term financial gain. Short term gains mean selling out the UC and playing as many playoff games as possible and making as much TV revenue as possible. These things are all aided by a good, likely pricier team. Obviously on the flip side, the cheaper the team, all else being equal, the more short term lrofit. Long term profit is helped mostly by winning/brand value.

It's always a balance between these things.