Wiretap: Bulls Hope To Re-Sign Zach LaVine At $14M-$16M

[Betta Bulleavit]

2019-20 Bulls Cap

Asik - 4(guaranteed portion when he is released
Felicio - 8.1
Dunn - 5.3
Lauri - 5.3
Denzel - 3.3
Carter - 4.3
Hutch - 1.9
2018 1st - 4

Total = 36.2

Cap = 107

Cap space = Roughly 71

Well, we would still have to account for the roster spot holds (about 5M) and Dunn's cap hold (about 11M) So all told, we'd probably looking at more like 61M.

If we signed Lavine to say, 4 yrs at 17M per, then we'd have around 43 give or take. Still plenty for a max free agent.

[kulaz3000]

I am one of the only ones not worry about Lavine. I believe that he will sign with the Bulls for somewhere around 16m-18m a year. I expect him to have a breakout season also. Lavine keeps showing that he wants to be a Chicago Bull for the future. I don't see him going anywhere.

I don't think the Bulls need to resign LaVine, but I think they should.

Though we are rebuilding, LaVine still fits in the category of young talent with lots of potential, and we should be looking to retain those players, not to just letting them go. He is too talented of a player, even with his deficiencies, to be freely allowed to sign with another team. At the max, yes, but if he gets an offer as holv03 said, in the range of 16-18 million per, I think we should match that offer.

[MrFortune3]

I'm good with whatever the contract he eventually signs. In 2-3 years it will be well underpaid anyway.

[Pnjguy]

2019-20 Bulls Cap

Asik - 4(guaranteed portion when he is released
Felicio - 8.1
Dunn - 5.3
Lauri - 5.3
Denzel - 3.3
Carter - 4.3
Hutch - 1.9
2018 1st - 4

Total = 36.2

Cap = 107

Cap space = Roughly 71

Well, we would still have to account for the roster spot holds (about 5M) and Dunn's cap hold (about 11M) So all told, we'd probably looking at more like 61M.

If we signed Lavine to say, 4 yrs at 17M per, then we'd have around 43 give or take. Still plenty for a max free agent.

Assuming Bulls renounce any cap holds and pick up Dunn's option, we're at 71 no?

[RagingBull316]

I'm curious, when was the last time the Bulls gave out a Max contract and they didn't move that player before it ended. No idea why everybody fears a Max deal so much.

The Bulls always find a way to get out of paying anyone they sign to big deals.

Also the Bulls never do anything when they have substantial cap space anyhow. They will sit on their assets as usual and let them walk during free agency. They have been doing this for the past 15 years and they will continue. They have everyone here brainwashed that the Bulls shouldn't spend too much on anyone because they need that money in the future.

Problem is for all of us, the future never comes. The big free agent never comes, they sign someone else and end up trading him for expiring a few years later. Always happens, rinse and repeat. We continually lose players for expiring deals. The only one who wins is reinsdorf who right now gets to count his money as the Bulls remain near the salary floor and if he gets out of signing lavine the key piece in the Butler trade. That Butler trade saves him Millions.

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[MrFortune3]

People assume that having cap space versus signing LaVine is better long term. Carlos Boozer is the biggest FA we have ever lured in FA.
Not sure where their logic is going. Signing LaVine doesn't kill our flexibility. If he develops properly, it enhances the draw of the franchise.

[Truebiscuit]

People assume that having cap space versus signing LaVine is better long term. Carlos Boozer is the biggest FA we have ever lured in FA.
Not sure where their logic is going. Signing LaVine doesn't kill our flexibility. If he develops properly, it enhances the draw of the franchise.

Thank you. The biggest thing he needs to work on is his defense; keep him in the same system and rep, rep, rep it until he sees it in his sleep.

[MrFortune3]

People assume that having cap space versus signing LaVine is better long term. Carlos Boozer is the biggest FA we have ever lured in FA.
Not sure where their logic is going. Signing LaVine doesn't kill our flexibility. If he develops properly, it enhances the draw of the franchise.

Thank you. The biggest thing he needs to work on is his defense; keep him in the same system and rep, rep, rep it until he sees it in his sleep.

I just want to see him give extreme effort on D.
Don't need him to be all world, give effort and help funnel into the team defense.

Ideally he turns into a franchise scoring option and plays ok defense.

[TheHrvReport]

4 years 68 million is my prediction. Pretty good value for Demar DeRozan 2.0

[kodo]

I see Lavine as equivalent of a 15-25 pick in the draft. He's probably more advanced than say, Zhaire Smith.

Would we eat a $14M per year bad contact for a another 1st round pick? I think most would say "hell yes," most were begging the FO to eat Faried's contract for the #14.

Financially & potential-wise, it's not different from drafting another guy and eating a bad contract. Unless one thinks Lavine is at his ceiling at age 22 and having missed a year of basketball due to injury. But some college players in the low 1st round draft also hit the NBA close to their ceiling as well.

[Chi town]

4 years 68 million is my prediction. Pretty good value for Demar DeRozan 2.0

Derozan with a good 3 ball is worth every penney of that deal.

Just don't know if Lavine is really Derozan.

[TheHrvReport]

4 years 68 million is my prediction. Pretty good value for Demar DeRozan 2.0

Derozan with a good 3 ball is worth every penney of that deal.

Just don't know if Lavine is really Derozan.

Someone the other day posted their averages through 22 years of age and it was almost identical, except Lavine had slightly higher assist numbers. I don't see why he wouldn't improve into the 27 ppg scorer Derozan was last year

[Leslie Forman]

I'm curious, when was the last time the Bulls gave out a Max contract and they didn't move that player before it ended. No idea why everybody fears a Max deal so much.

The Bulls always find a way to get out of paying anyone they sign to big deals.

Yeah, through amnesty or trading for equally bad or worse contracts.

Derrick Rose's contract has expired, yet Robin Lopez is still on this damn roster.

[League Circles]

I'm curious, when was the last time the Bulls gave out a Max contract and they didn't move that player before it ended. No idea why everybody fears a Max deal so much.

The Bulls always find a way to get out of paying anyone they sign to big deals.

Also the Bulls never do anything when they have substantial cap space anyhow. They will sit on their assets as usual and let them walk during free agency. They have been doing this for the past 15 years and they will continue. They have everyone here brainwashed that the Bulls shouldn't spend too much on anyone because they need that money in the future.

Problem is for all of us, the future never comes. The big free agent never comes, they sign someone else and end up trading him for expiring a few years later. Always happens, rinse and repeat. We continually lose players for expiring deals. The only one who wins is reinsdorf who right now gets to count his money as the Bulls remain near the salary floor and if he gets out of signing lavine the key piece in the Butler trade. That Butler trade saves him Millions.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using RealGM mobile app

So much blatant inaccuracy in this post.

The Bulls have only signed 2 or 3 players ever to max deals.

Ben Wallace was maybe max, not quite but close I think. He fell off a cliff after year 1 and was traded for a very similar salary and length of contract player in Larry Hughes (and somebody else I can't recall).

Derrick Rose was traded when it was apparent he wouldn't return to stardom. The Bulls took on more salary than they sent out (Lopez and Grant lasted longer than Rose).

Jimmy Butler was traded to tank.

Other large salary players have been amnestied,bought out, etc costing us many millions in Boozer, Wade, Tim Thomas etc.

The only time the Bulls have had cap space and not spent all of it to improve the team as best they could was last summer because they were tanking.

Which assets have we allowed to walk in FA other than Ben Gordon and Omer Asik? Both of whom were let go to spend more money on better players instead.

You say we always trade our big salary guys for expring deals huh? Rinse and repeat? Let's see:

Wallace: not traded for expirings
Deng: only traded for expiring when he was expiring himself and he declined an over market value extension offer
Rose: not traded for expirings
Noah: not traded for expirings
Boozer: not traded for expirings
Gasol: not traded for expirings
Jimmy: not traded for expirings
Wade: not traded for expirings
Rondo: not traded for expirings

In the Paxson era the Bulls have had cap space 5 times. The first 4 times they signed an all star caliber player. The 5th time they were tanking.

The Bulls revenue is not Reinsdorf's money. He represents an ownership group of like 20 people.

The Bulls have never been anywhere near the salary floor except last year when they were blatantly tanking. On the contrary, almost every year they've been above the cap and used all available standard cap exceptions.

No one thinks Lavine was the key piece in the Butler trade anymore. I never did. But even if he does walk (because he sucks), the Bulls are slated to pay more to Dunn and Lauri next year (19-20) than they would have owed Jimmy ($0 after he surely opts out).

[League Circles]

2019-20 Bulls Cap

Asik - 4(guaranteed portion when he is released
Felicio - 8.1
Dunn - 5.3
Lauri - 5.3
Denzel - 3.3
Carter - 4.3
Hutch - 1.9
2018 1st - 4

Total = 36.2

Cap = 107

Cap space = Roughly 71

Well, we would still have to account for the roster spot holds (about 5M) and Dunn's cap hold (about 11M) So all told, we'd probably looking at more like 61M.

If we signed Lavine to say, 4 yrs at 17M per, then we'd have around 43 give or take. Still plenty for a max free agent.

And IMO we can't presume Dunn can be held with his cap hold, especially if he improves and is desirable. He could sign an offer sheet on day 1 of FA for 20 mil or whatever and we're screwed.

That's why I want to blow our cap space in 2019 instead of 2020.

[BR0D1E86]

14-16 is still likely to be an overpay, but it’s probably worth the gamble that he improved enough to make it worthwhile.

16 is my hard cap for him. I’ve settled on it. Any more and he can walk.

[Betta Bulleavit]

2019-20 Bulls Cap

Asik - 4(guaranteed portion when he is released
Felicio - 8.1
Dunn - 5.3
Lauri - 5.3
Denzel - 3.3
Carter - 4.3
Hutch - 1.9
2018 1st - 4

Total = 36.2

Cap = 107

Cap space = Roughly 71

Well, we would still have to account for the roster spot holds (about 5M) and Dunn's cap hold (about 11M) So all told, we'd probably looking at more like 61M.

If we signed Lavine to say, 4 yrs at 17M per, then we'd have around 43 give or take. Still plenty for a max free agent.

Assuming Bulls renounce any cap holds and pick up Dunn's option, we're at 71 no?

I'm not a cap expert. But those that are...don't laugh at me...we try!!

Roster spot cap holds cannot be renounced since every roster has to have a minimum number of players. Until those spots are filled, they count for a certain amount against he cap, which I believe is currently around 1M per spot.

In the case of Dunn, I had it wrong. He won't be eligible for an extension until next summer and won't hit RFA until the year after. So your figure is right for him.

[Betta Bulleavit]

14-16 is still likely to be an overpay, but it’s probably worth the gamble that he improved enough to make it worthwhile.

16 is my hard cap for him. I’ve settled on it. Any more and he can walk.

If it's 18M on a 4 yr deal, I would grit my teeth but probably still take it. If he only want to work out a 5 year deal with us exclusively...then yes..I want a lower annual salary.

[Chi town]

I'm curious, when was the last time the Bulls gave out a Max contract and they didn't move that player before it ended. No idea why everybody fears a Max deal so much.

The Bulls always find a way to get out of paying anyone they sign to big deals.

Yeah, through amnesty or trading for equally bad or worse contracts.

Derrick Rose's contract has expired, yet Robin Lopez is still on this damn roster.

1. But we still have Jerian Grant!

2. But we used that free money to sign D Wade!

[SensiBull]

4 years 68 million is my prediction. Pretty good value for Demar DeRozan 2.0

Derozan with a good 3 ball is worth every penney of that deal.

Just don't know if Lavine is really Derozan.

Someone the other day posted their averages through 22 years of age and it was almost identical, except Lavine had slightly higher assist numbers. I don't see why he wouldn't improve into the 27 ppg scorer Derozan was last year

Didn't Toronto (DeRozan's team) just get swept and fire the league consensus Coach of the Year in the same season?

No one sees DeRozan's hero-ball as the problem?

Slightly higher assist numbers? Yeah. Nah.