Woj: "Bulls to be a factor in July"

[Red Larrivee]

Not sure why/how the Bulls would be a factor. They won't have enough room to offer a full max for a 7+ year guy (LeBron, George, Durant), and there's no one at the lower level that's an RFA which is exciting nor is there anyone that's a UFA that is sub max that will be appealing.

The Bulls don't need decent to good players at high prices. They have enough young talent already and don't need to glut things up for non stars.

If an amazing deal appears, then sure, maybe.

Can someone explain this to me like "The contracts for Dummies" -style?

We haven't signed LaVine yet, and there's no big deals on our roster so how we wouldn't have room for max deals?

Currently:

10 players signed to guaranteed deals: $57,934,536
2 cap holds for RFA's (LaVine and Nwaba): $11,351,604
2 trade exceptions: $13,929,818 (12.5M + 1.429)
2 cap holds for draft picks (7, 22): $5,314,800

=$88,530,758

+

2 unguaranteed deals (Zipser, Kilpatrick) - Both probably get waived.

So, if the cap stays at $101M, Chicago really doesn't have that much money. That's mostly because of the trade exceptions and taking on Asik's contract ($25M combined between those).

[dougthonus]

If we let Lavine walk, and didn't re-sign anybody due for a contract, we would have about $42M in cap space. That would be letting Vonleh, Nwaba, and Lavine all walk without QO's and not picking up Zipser (team option) .

The only one I'm keeping is Nwaba.

If we renounce everyone and keep our draft picks, we have 35 million in cap room.

[WindyCityBorn]

So Woj is basically going against everything we think we know about Bulls in the draft and free agency.

[kulaz3000]

I love Woj, but this is bull.

I think the Bulls are going to hold out for the following free agency class, and rightfully so.

At most, they may do a KCP or Redick type one-year deal, but I don't see them going after one of the top tier free agents on a multi-year deal.

Maybe they decide to let Lavine go, and give Smart a one year 20 million dollar deal and continue the tank.

Young/Dunn
Smart/Nwaba/Kilpatric
Holiday/Hutchison/Denzel
Lauri/Portis
Lopez/Vonleh/Felicio


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

I'm not advocating Smart by the way, just throwing out a crazy possibility as to how we could potentially be a factor in July, though I don't see it happening.

[keloms]

Can someone explain this to me like "The contracts for Dummies" -style?

We haven't signed LaVine yet, and there's no big deals on our roster so how we wouldn't have room for max deals?

Yeah, I guess we'd have room if we don't sign LaVine at all.

Still possible to reach it with him

A) Deal Lopez

or

B) Stretch Omer & renounce Nwaba / use #22 as a stash away pick

[RedBulls23]

Didn't Pax say a month ago that majority of this roster will be set and they aren't going to be a player in free agency?

So right he lied or woj got a bad source.

[keloms]

Didn't Pax say a month ago that majority of this roster will be set?

Typical Bulls FO move though. Build mediocre try hard team.

Hence the "sneaky" term.

Doesn't mean they'll actually do anything, but, knocking on every door being ready to jump at the opportunity if the right scenario / terms present itself is never a bad thing.

[jump]

I can't believe some of the voices on this site. A sports guy on his show speculates that the Bulls will have the resources to acquire FAs this summer - based on the fact that he feels they have a good young core, and knowing that they have cap space. And what happens here? Posters go wild talking about how lame, stupid, incompetent and typical the FO is. Get over it. Grow up. Pull your heads out, please.

[WestsideResider]

I'm just glad we're finally at a point where everyone can laugh at stories like this and not actually expect us to sign any big names.

[Red8911]

Bulls are actually a good fit for lebron(young talented team, a bunch of shooters and easier eastern conference) but I hate the guy too much, this is MJs legacy he’s not welcomed here. Probably wouldn’t come anyway,I’m guessing he wants to form a new super team somewhere with Paul George and Chris Paul maybe.
Durant would be great if he were to leave GS but that seems even more unlikely than lebron,would probably choose 15 teams before the bulls lol.

[WindyCityBorn]

Didn't Pax say a month ago that majority of this roster will be set and they aren't going to be a player in free agency?

So right he lied or woj got a bad source.

Woj doesn't seem to know what he is talking about in general. MPJ going as low as 15 is not happening.

[WindyCityBorn]

Bulls are actually a good fit for lebron(young talented team, a bunch of shooters and easier eastern conference) but I hate the guy too much, this is MJs legacy he’s not welcomed here. Probably wouldn’t come anyway,I’m guessing he wants to form a new super team somewhere with Paul George and Chris Paul maybe.
Durant would be great if he were to leave GS but that seems even more unlikely than lebron,would probably choose 15 teams before the bulls lol.

We are not getting any superstars. We would probably be overpaying guys worse than is feared with LaVine.

[WindyCityBorn]

Didn't Pax say a month ago that majority of this roster will be set?

Typical Bulls FO move though. Build mediocre try hard team.

Hence the "sneaky" term.

Doesn't mean they'll actually do anything, but, knocking on every door being ready to jump at the opportunity if the right scenario / terms present itself is never a bad thing.

So basically Woj just made up something? Sure we can call Lebron and Durant, but.....

[NADROJ]

Okay that clip just makes it seem a lot more like Woj is just saying something because its his turn to speak at the round table. Doesn't sound like he has any inside info on what the Bulls' plans are. I'm a little more relieved.

This.

ESPN roundtable Woj is not reporter Woj; he absolutely appears to talking out of his *** in the video.

[keloms]

Didn't Pax say a month ago that majority of this roster will be set?

Typical Bulls FO move though. Build mediocre try hard team.

Hence the "sneaky" term.

Doesn't mean they'll actually do anything, but, knocking on every door being ready to jump at the opportunity if the right scenario / terms present itself is never a bad thing.

So basically Woj just made up something? Sure we can call Lebron and Durant, but.....

Meant it doesn't mean that they'll be able to actually sign anyone of great value this year, but, if the right pieces are willing to take an interview or consider them, it's absolutely the right way to go to still be trying.

[Red8911]

Bulls are actually a good fit for lebron(young talented team, a bunch of shooters and easier eastern conference) but I hate the guy too much, this is MJs legacy he’s not welcomed here. Probably wouldn’t come anyway,I’m guessing he wants to form a new super team somewhere with Paul George and Chris Paul maybe.
Durant would be great if he were to leave GS but that seems even more unlikely than lebron,would probably choose 15 teams before the bulls lol.

We are not getting any superstars. We would probably be overpaying guys worse than is feared with LaVine.

Probably not but they will definitely try. Durant,Lebron,Chris Paul, George, Capela and some other solid options could be available,it would be a crime to not even try especially since they have cap space. Never know what could happen, maybe the super team gets formed here.

[WindyCityBorn]

Bulls are actually a good fit for lebron(young talented team, a bunch of shooters and easier eastern conference) but I hate the guy too much, this is MJs legacy he’s not welcomed here. Probably wouldn’t come anyway,I’m guessing he wants to form a new super team somewhere with Paul George and Chris Paul maybe.
Durant would be great if he were to leave GS but that seems even more unlikely than lebron,would probably choose 15 teams before the bulls lol.

We are not getting any superstars. We would probably be overpaying guys worse than is feared with LaVine.

Probably not but they will definitely try. Durant,Lebron,Chris Paul, George, Capela and some other solid options could be available,it would be a crime to not even try especially since they have cap space. Never know what could happen, maybe the super team gets formed here.

We really only have cap space for one max and barely that.

[kodo]

The entire term "sneaky" implies to me something low key...the opposite of a max.
Someone more like Hezonja, not Paul George.

Which sounds about right after we sign Lavine.

And a big chunk of our cap space is $10.5M cap hold on Noah Vonleh which will be renounced immediately.

[League Circles]

Not sure why/how the Bulls would be a factor. They won't have enough room to offer a full max for a 7+ year guy (LeBron, George, Durant), and there's no one at the lower level that's an RFA which is exciting nor is there anyone that's a UFA that is sub max that will be appealing.

The Bulls don't need decent to good players at high prices. They have enough young talent already and don't need to glut things up for non stars.

If an amazing deal appears, then sure, maybe.

Can someone explain this to me like "The contracts for Dummies" -style?

We haven't signed LaVine yet, and there's no big deals on our roster so how we wouldn't have room for max deals?

Currently:

10 players signed to guaranteed deals: $57,934,536
2 cap holds for RFA's (LaVine and Nwaba): $11,351,604
2 trade exceptions: $13,929,818 (12.5M + 1.429)
2 cap holds for draft picks (7, 22): $5,314,800

=$88,530,758

+

2 unguaranteed deals (Zipser, Kilpatrick) - Both probably get waived.

So, if the cap stays at $101M, Chicago really doesn't have that much money. That's mostly because of the trade exceptions and taking on Asik's contract ($25M combined between those).

Well if we renounce those trade exceptions and those restricted free agents we obviously have a ton of cap space correct?

[kodo]

Well if we renounce those trade exceptions and those restricted free agents we obviously have a ton of cap space correct?

We have $41M of max possible cap space, if we go scorched earth.