Chicago Bulls 2015-2016 Cap Space

[Smitty731]

Updated 3/7 - removed Cap Hold for Nazr Mohammed.

Current Cap Space: None. $17,116,711.00 over
Maximum Cap Space: None. $17,116,711.00 over (if all options/guarantees were not picked up, all FAs renounced, no Draft Picks were to be signed this season, and all Exceptions were renounced)
Luxury Tax Space: None. $2,798,894.00 over
Tax Apron Space: $1,201,106.00
2016-2017 Maximum Cap Space: $26,097,124.00

How I got there:

Guaranteed Contracts (15): Cameron Bairstow, Aaron Brooks, Jimmy Butler, Mike Dunleavy, Cristiano Felício, Pau Gasol, Taj Gibson, Justin Holiday, Doug McDermott, Nikola Mirotić, E'Twaun Moore, Joakim Noah, Bobby Portis, Derrick Rose, Tony Snell

Partial/Non-Guaranteed Contracts (0): None

Free Agents (0): None

First Round Draft Pick Holds (0): None

Carried Money (1): $333,333.00 (Richard Hamilton)

Unsigned Second Round Picks (3): Tadija Dragicevic, Milovan Rakovic, Vladimir Veremeenko

Exceptions: Non-Taxpayer Exception at $1,126,000.00 (partially used on Aaron Brooks). No Bi-Annual Exception due to being over the Luxury Tax Apron. TPE at $2,854,940.00 (Kirk Hinrich).

[Cliff Levingston]

Updated 6/5

Current Cap Space: None. $12,086,309.00 over
Maximum Cap Space: $4,314,333.00 (if all options/guarantees were not picked up, all FAs renounced, no Draft Picks were to be signed this season, and all Exceptions were renounced)
Projected Cap Space: None. $9,750,449.00 over
Luxury Tax Space: $10,212,976.00
Tax Apron Space: $14,212,976.00

How I got there:

Guaranteed Contracts (8): Pau Gasol, Taj Gibson, Kirk Hinrich (assumes he opts in), Doug McDermott, Nikola Mirotic, Joakim Noah, Derrick Rose, Tony Snell

Partial/Non-Guaranteed Contracts Kept (2): Cameron Bairstow, E’Twuan Moore

Restricted FAs given Qualifying Offers (1): Jimmy Butler

FA Cap Holds (3): Aaron Brooks, Mike Dunleavy, Nazr Mohammed

FAs Renounced/Players Waived (0): None

Draft Pick Holds (1): Pick #22

Carried Money (1): $333,333.00 (Richard Hamilton)

Expected Exceptions (based on Cap space projection, subject to change): Non-Taxpayer Exception at $5,464,000.00. Bi-Annual at $2,139,000.00. No TPEs.

Line of Thinking:

The Bulls are at a bit of a crossroads. They are very good. Most would consider them to be contenders. However, they haven’t been able to get quite over the top. Most of that is due to injuries. That cloud will still hover over them until players like Rose, Noah, Gasol, and Gibson can complete an entire season (regular season AND Playoffs) healthy.

As for the offseason, the Bulls major decision is an easy one. Jimmy Butler is a lock to get a Qualifying Offer. He’s also a virtual lock to have any contract offers matched. At this point, he is at least as important to Chicago’s success as anyone else on the roster, if not more important.

The other FAs are fairly straight forward. As an over the Cap team, the Bulls have no reason to renounce Brooks, Dunleavy or Mohammed. All of them could conceivably be back as well. All have value at the right price.

The Bulls biggest move for next year was likely already made, in replacing Tom Thibodeau with Fred Hoiberg. Thibs and management obviously clashed. Whether it was playing style, minutes, or whatever else, they were not on the same page. Under Hoiberg, the team may place a little less reliance on winning in the regular season to get to the Playoffs as a healthy team. I’d expect to see Rose, Gasol and Noah (assuming all are in Chicago next year) get spotted with plenty of rest throughout the year. That heightens the need for solid backups behind them. Chicago doesn’t have a ton of options to add to the team without making major changes. Ultimately, the roster probably looks similar, but with a different style and, for the Bulls’ sake, different end results.

Agreed for the most part. Cliff Levingston would like to see Noah exchanged for some decent bench guy(s) and a future pick. We won't get much for him but he doesn't mesh well with Gasol in the front court, has never really played too well with Rose, doesn't figure to be a good asset in Hoiberg's offense and could be limited by the knee injury for the rest of his career. Trading him opens time for Mirotic and Gibson both while we could draft a young guy and/or sign a passable young guy for depth in the front court.

[pipfan]

Bulls can have cap space for a short window of time

Trade Noah/Kirk and take no $ back
Tell Butler to wait a day or two, not sign any offer sheets, and he will get his max deal. His cap hold is low
During the Moratorium, be very active. They trade Taj too for no $ back (Sac for dropping protection on their pick, Utah for future picks) and they have a short window of Max cap space

[Warriorfan]

Bulls can have cap space for a short window of time

Trade Noah/Kirk and take no $ back
Tell Butler to wait a day or two, not sign any o9ffer sheets, and he will get his max deal. His cap hold is low
During the Moratorium, be very active. They trade Taj too for no $ back (Sac for dropping protection on their pick, Utah for future picks) and they have a short window of Max cap space

Chi would be trading big man depth I assume to reunite the Gasols.

Possible but I think getting younger and a true outside threat if Mc Dermott is not it would be the goal.

[Magic_Johnny12]

Bulls can have cap space for a short window of time

Trade Noah/Kirk and take no $ back
Tell Butler to wait a day or two, not sign any offer sheets, and he will get his max deal. His cap hold is low
During the Moratorium, be very active. They trade Taj too for no $ back (Sac for dropping protection on their pick, Utah for future picks) and they have a short window of Max cap space

Its sounds good on paper but highly improbable. Too many factors play into the scenario to be realistic.

[pipfan]

Not too many Magic-I think a few teams would take Noah for cap space

Someone would take Kirk if we give the $3 million

We have a huge lead on Marc's plans with Pau-the Moratorium is key-no one can sign anywhere while the Bulls try things out. Butler would just have to trust the Bulls mgmt. and not sign an offer

[LApwnd]

Not too many Magic-I think a few teams would take Noah for cap space

Someone would take Kirk if we give the $3 million

We have a huge lead on Marc's plans with Pau-the Moratorium is key-no one can sign anywhere while the Bulls try things out. Butler would just have to trust the Bulls mgmt. and not sign an offer

Considering even wade called out your mgmt and how they dealt with deng...if i were butler I'm taking the 1st max offer that comes my way. This is a business you take whats on paper not promises