Building the Bulls 2026-2027 Season

[Evil_Headband]

All of those are going to be renounced in the summer to get our full cap space.

Perhaps it's improbable, but it's possible the Bulls will operate as an over the cap team. It would certainly be tricky but there are advantages (like maintaining MLE, trade exceptions) in doing so if they can work out some sign-and-trades.

There's no advantages. You don't need trade exceptions when you have a lot of cap space.

You can potentially carry the trade exceptions and the MLE (or part) into the season to have further flexibility at next year's trade deadline. Those are advantages. They might not be able to pull that off but it's possible.

[Red Larrivee]

You can potentially carry the trade exceptions and the MLE (or part) into the season to have further flexibility at next year's trade deadline. Those are advantages. They might not be able to pull that off but it's possible.

Or, you could just not use your cap space. And the bonus is that you are not confined to a specific number in a trade like you are with a TPE. Cap space simply has more flexibility. What you're saying would make a little sense if the Bulls player exceptions exceeded the number they have under the cap. Bulls could potentially free up north of 60M in cap room.

[dougthonus]

All of those are going to be renounced in the summer to get our full cap space.

Perhaps it's improbable, but it's possible the Bulls will operate as an over the cap team. It would certainly be tricky but there are advantages (like maintaining MLE, trade exceptions) in doing so if they can work out some sign-and-trades.

There's no advantages. You don't need trade exceptions when you have a lot of cap space.

Almost certainly true, but say we extended a couple guys on the roster, and had Ivey's large cap hold, we might have some window where we operate over the cap. It's really unlikely to be true, but if you wanted to keep Simons and keep Ivey as a RFA with a 30M cap hold then there is a possibility where operating over the cap and using an exception could come into play.

[Guru]

One thing someone tossed out that I thought might be interesting:

Would you take Cam Johnson (1/23) or Aaron Gordon (roughly 3/110) from Denver into salary space, and then they could potentially use the room to resign Peyton Watson?

The other thing to consider is do we take on something like Zeke Nnaji's contract for a draft pick.....are they so desperate they give up a first to save space and we get another pick

[Evil_Headband]

You can potentially carry the trade exceptions and the MLE (or part) into the season to have further flexibility at next year's trade deadline. Those are advantages. They might not be able to pull that off but it's possible.

Or, you could just not use your cap space. And the bonus is that you are not confined to a specific number in a trade like you are with a TPE. Cap space simply has more flexibility. What you're saying would make a little sense if the Bulls player exceptions exceeded the number they have under the cap. Bulls could potentially free up north of 60M in cap room.

A key point: In a vacuum, if you can enter the season with trade exceptions and part or all of the MLE, that is better then not having that flexibility.

The Bulls might be able to build their team through a series of sign-and-trades and use of exceptions. Maybe they work out a Simons or Sexton sign-and-trade, for example. If you can get the players you want while staying over the cap, that is the better route.

Of course, it may not be possible. They might be better off, all things considered, using cap space. I suspect that is likely what they end up doing. I don't think it's a certainty though -- that was my original point.

[pipfan]

How's this for a plan?

1. Sign QGrimes to a 3 year/$45 million contract?
2. Sign MRobinson to a 3 year/$51 million contract?
3. Absorb Cam J into cap space for the Den late 2nd back

At #9 take the BPA-no matter the position. We need to get lucky with a high talent risk

Let everyone else walk-maybe keep Richards

Giddey/Jones/Dillingham
QGrimes/Okoro/#32 pick (best shooter available)
Matas/CamJ
JSmith/Noa/PWill
MRobinson/Richards

Plus the #9 pick (assuming the Port pick doesn't convert)

If healthy (always a huge ?) that lineup could be fun-it'd be huge and a big defensive upgrade. Hopefully Noa and the #9 pick develop some

[dougthonus]

A key point: In a vacuum, if you can enter the season with trade exceptions and part or all of the MLE, that is better then not having that flexibility.

The Bulls might be able to build their team through a series of sign-and-trades and use of exceptions. Maybe they work out a Simons or Sexton sign-and-trade, for example. If you can get the players you want while staying over the cap, that is the better route.

Of course, it may not be possible. They might be better off, all things considered, using cap space. I suspect that is likely what they end up doing. I don't think it's a certainty though -- that was my original point.

Because Ivey's individual cap hold is so large too, it may facilitate even temporarily being able to pull off or do a trade using the exception, keep Ivey's cap hold open, then eventually resolve him, then do everything via cap space later, but keep you legal as an intermediary step.

[sco]

I'd rather pay Watson. Gordon and Johnson are about as good as they'll ever be, and Denver doesn't have any interesting draft capital to trade as incentive for moving big deals.

Exactly. 4/120 gets it done and I like that much more than Coby at 25 or Ayo at 20.

Watson has the energy and competitor edge we need in our starting lineup and he has the athleticism and size to go with it.

I always thought absorbing “overpaid” but “underrated” (er overly scapegoated) players in the middle of their deals was a sound strategy. Something Bulls never do (more-so the opposite with Vuc and Otto).

Thinking guys like Derrick White, Randle, etc. Zach Randolph if we go way back. So long you’re not giving up any worthwhile asset to absorb that money, to hedge the risk. But like 2Y on a deal like that, it’s a safe means to reclaim good trade value. Denver could really use the TPE. I prefer this to handing fresh 4y deals for middle guys. Not like Gordon will become some bad contract, and Bulls don’t have to marry him for another 5Y.

Anyway, I still don’t know what the plan is, because AK says he’s tired of being in the middle, but the deadline trades imo kept us in the middle. I think they’re praying for some 5-10% odds in the draft and they’ll go for it in free agency.

I doubt 4/$120 get's it done for Watson...maybe not even at 4/$140, but if we whiff, I'd be open to taking on Cam "for nothing".

[Red Larrivee]

A key point: In a vacuum, if you can enter the season with trade exceptions and part or all of the MLE, that is better then not having that flexibility.

The Bulls might be able to build their team through a series of sign-and-trades and use of exceptions. Maybe they work out a Simons or Sexton sign-and-trade, for example. If you can get the players you want while staying over the cap, that is the better route.

Of course, it may not be possible. They might be better off, all things considered, using cap space. I suspect that is likely what they end up doing. I don't think it's a certainty though -- that was my original point.

I highly doubt that any of the pending free agents the Bulls have will be critical for a sign and trade to obtain players who actually have value. I think its a certainty that they operate under the cap.

If it was similar to the year when they signed Ball and Caruso, I'd agree with you, because it made more sense to operate over the cap. We had expiring contracts for rotation players that year with Temple, Sato, and Young to use in trades, and the cap room we could open up wasn't notable enough. Plus, we still had Lauri's cap hold.

[leo921]

My realistic possible offseason is the following:

My assumptions are Bulls have the 9th pick, Port makes the playoffs 16th pick, 33 rd pick.

in the draft I would want 2 out of the group of Steinbach (6-11 PF solid rebounder) Ngongba (6-11 C, good passer and defender) Carr (6-5 SG, 6-10 wingspan 3 and D guy) There are some possible guys that can be interesting in the 2nd round as well.

Free Agency

Renouncing everyone's cap holds give us ~70 million to spend. Stretching and waiving Patrick adds an additional $11 million to that, to give us ~80 million to spend before hitting the salary cap.

Tari Eason (RFA), G/Wing, 24 years old - 4 years $100 million - Efficient scorer with good size and still only 24 years old. 25-27m per year range, Eason and Matas would create a fun uptempo 3/4 grouping who can create havoc on the defense end as both can create blocks and steals.

Mitchell Robinson/Hartstein/Mark Williams - Bulls need a high level rebounder, shotblocker, lob threat on the roster. Hartstein would be my ideal choice but he has a team option, if OKC lets him go we should pick him up. Williams has had a good year for Suns but they can't afford to keep him but he would be a solid choice to fill that role. I like Robinson but he is injury prone and have to load manage him.

Nick Richards, C, 28 years old - 1 year minimum salary - I've liked what I've seen from him so far. Brings good energy and protects the rim, perfectly acceptable 3rd/4th big.

Final Roster

PG: Giddey - Dillingham
SG: Carr - Jones
SF: Eason - Noa - Okoro
PF: Matas - Smith - Noa - Miller
C: Hartstein - Richards

Could be a solid team with room to grow, lots of young guys.

[Dan Z]

One thing someone tossed out that I thought might be interesting:

Would you take Cam Johnson (1/23) or Aaron Gordon (roughly 3/110) from Denver into salary space, and then they could potentially use the room to resign Peyton Watson?

The other thing to consider is do we take on something like Zeke Nnaji's contract for a draft pick.....are they so desperate they give up a first to save space and we get another pick

Denver doesn't have any first round picks they can give up. They could do swaps and maybe some 2nds, but is that worth it? Not really.

[Guru]

One thing someone tossed out that I thought might be interesting:

Would you take Cam Johnson (1/23) or Aaron Gordon (roughly 3/110) from Denver into salary space, and then they could potentially use the room to resign Peyton Watson?

The other thing to consider is do we take on something like Zeke Nnaji's contract for a draft pick.....are they so desperate they give up a first to save space and we get another pick

Denver doesn't have any first round picks they can give up. They could do swaps and maybe some 2nds, but is that worth it? Not really.

They can give up any first round pick they draft.

[Dan Z]

The other thing to consider is do we take on something like Zeke Nnaji's contract for a draft pick.....are they so desperate they give up a first to save space and we get another pick

Denver doesn't have any first round picks they can give up. They could do swaps and maybe some 2nds, but is that worth it? Not really.

They can give up any first round pick they draft.

Then we can do that trade on or after the draft. Right now it's at #25.

If the Bulls get the Portland pick I wouldn't do this trade, but if not then I'd consider it.

Also, is Zeke's contract (7.4 million the next two years) enough to help Denver re-sign Watson? If not, then I bet they won't trade him (along with their pick).

[DropStep]

In another thread, I posted this as what I assume is a reasonable outlook

1-Don't extend the Qualifying offer to Ivey, but try to sign him back for under 10M
2-Draft Dash Daniels at the start of the second round, it's a deep Guard draft. Essentially, what I would want there is a defensive-oriented guard
3-Re-sign Yabusele to a similar deal that he is on now.
4-Re-sign Richards to a similar deal to what he is on now.
5-Draft Quaintance in round 1. He's the rarest of the bigs despite obvious fears around production/injury this year. His Stocks his freshman year were special.
6-Sign Hartenstein. He is coming of a 3yr 87 Million dollar deal, thats 29M a year. I assume he will want more. How much more would you go? Hes averaging just 10 pts but 9.7 rebounds per game
7-Sign Watson. He's the big fish and the most essential to me. An ascending player, with versatile defense averaging 14.9p, 41% from 3, 4.9rebounds, 2assists, 1.2blocks, 1 steal.

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

Hartenstein is someone I could switch away from to maybe a Mark Williams. Who might even be a better fit

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

1 Giddey 6'8 4 Jones 6'1 3 Dillingham 6'1 3
2 WATSON Ivey 6'3 1 DASH DANIELS
3 Buzelis 6'10 3 Okoro 6'5 2 Williams 6'8 4
4 Smith 6'9 2 Essengue 6'10 4 Yabusele 6'7 1
5 HARTENSTEIN Richards 6'11 1 QUAINTANCE

100%!

I wonder what it will take to get Denver to walk away from him (or stop them from making moves to free up space to keep him). I'm thinking the number is $35M/yr. What do others think?

Not saying it's wrong, but 35 is a big number. I think if Watson gets 35m+ a year based on a month or so of performance, Duren will get more than the 27 mentioned earlier with his resume.

[pipfan]

Duren will almost certainly get a max offer from Det
Watson might be overpriced

I like the idea of QGrimes (3 years/$45 million) and absorb Cam Johnson-keeping cap space available for 2027-when there will be some possible difference makers available

[Guru]

What would be the issue of sending Dillingham and Ivey to the G League? Let them both start there for a month.

[sco]

What would be the issue of sending Dillingham and Ivey to the G League? Let them both start there for a month.

Dillingham, absolutely. Ivey, his issues seem physical, not skills or playing time related. Either he's on the floor or he's injured.

[Guru]

What would be the issue of sending Dillingham and Ivey to the G League? Let them both start there for a month.

Dillingham, absolutely. Ivey, his issues seem physical, not skills or playing time related. Either he's on the floor or he's injured.

I think a doctor would say he's fine. It's probably confidence around his injury.

[eierluke]

It took AK too long to change direction.
We have to endure beeing hopelessly mediorce way too long.
At least we're now where we should have been 3 years ago: In a good situation.
Our payroll offers a lot of room for maneuvering.
Most of our contracts are very good or at least OK:
- Very good: Giddey, Matas (rookie contract), Jones, Smith
- OK: Dillingham (rookie contract), Okoro
We just have to carry around 2 busts (PWill and Essengue)

Even though it still hurts a little bit I evaluate trading Coby and Ayo away as steps into the right direction:
Don't give up this flexibility to sign players who (though valuable) aren't star players.

Most important thing: stick by this plan and don't lose patience now!

[NecessaryEvil]

#1 Bulls land top 4 pick (currently 20 percent chance)
#2 Portland pick conveys (Bulls land 15th/16th)
#3 Jaden Ivey traded draft day for 2027 2nd round pick
#4 32nd pick via N.O (best center available)
#5 56nd pick via Denver (draft and stash overseas)

#6 Simons walks (27 mill expiring)
#7 Sexton walks (19 mill expiring)
#8 Collins re-signed (2 yrs / 20 million)
#9 Yabusele re-signed (2 yrs / 9 million)
#10 Richards re-signed (2 yrs / 10 million)


[[tbc]]