Realistic higher end FA targets

[TimHonks]

I guess I'd go with Kemba if we are including him, but I don't think we should target massive contracts.

Everyone seems to either want to be a true contender or the worst team in the league, but I'd be excited with a 4-6 seed with a young core and some solid vets. I think the Bulls most realistic shot at becoming a contender is getting good first and having money/assets in place to take the next step when the next diva becomes available.

[Ccwatercraft]

I think Kemba should also be a primary target. I would prefer Brogdon but I would max out Kemba if we could get him.

Maxing Kemba is scary for me, I rather overpay Brogdon if we are dead set on overpaying someone at PG.

I don't really see the financial difference. Once we sign either one, we're probably going to be capped out for like 8 years when our young start getting extensions.

agree with the cap issues, we're going to be strapped for some time. (not sure about 8 years but, several years)

I thought conley was a better option because he would only be for 2 vs 4, but once we extend lauri, not sure if it matters. I guess it depends on otto as well, since he can opt out and demand longer terms, this is a big year for him so I hope he balls out.

[TheStig]

I'm not that worried about it. The Bulls would be able to move salary if Durant (or, say, a more likely name - Kemba) wanted to come for a max deal.

Two problems:
1: You don't recruit people then try to free up the space afterwards. I can't think of any examples of this happening, there might be one, but it's extremely rare and almost certainly makes it significantly more difficult to achieve based on how rare it is.

2: You can't free up enough salary for two max slots which is what you would need to get a star to come here.

I think you could get there. Someone would take Lavine and Porter into their cap space. Obviously not together but I think it's doable. Neither are bad deals.

But they're not coming here. There are much better choices than coming to play for this poor excuse of an organization.

[panthermark]

Pretty sure only ONE superstar has left his team in the individual max era and that's Lebron.

LeBron, KD, and that's about it.

Just off the top of my head, you forgot:
Melo
Bosh
T-MAC
D Howard
Shaq
Arenas
Amare
Hill


There are others....as some players were free agents or pending free agents that ended up being S&T'd because they FORCED their way to said team.

Post MJ, we have yet to sign, or S&T for a star player in his prime. Boozer, Gasol, Wallace, and getting Brad Miller may have been our best pick-ups. Those are solid pick-ups, but (given the age of some), nothing franchise shifting.

We might be a gigantic media market with 6 banners hanging from the rafters, but we are NOT a prime FA destination. We are more like a small market FA destination. Compare us to NY or LA....the gap is huge. Hell, compare us to Miami or Dallas....

[TheStig]

I wouldn't go after a big time FA this year. I don't think overpaying for a 3rd tier guy makes sense.

The only one I'd make an exception for is Jimmy. If you can get him for 4 years and a little less than max, I'd take him back in a heartbeat. I know it's unlikely but I'd make the pitch.

Other than that, I'd get Beverly. Then I'd see if Lavine can be the lead gaurd he thinks he is.

[TimHonks]

I wouldn't go after a big time FA this year. I don't think overpaying for a 3rd tier guy makes sense.

The only one I'd make an exception for is Jimmy. If you can get him for 4 years and a little less than max, I'd take him back in a heartbeat. I know it's unlikely but I'd make the pitch.

Other than that, I'd get Beverly. Then I'd see if Lavine can be the lead gaurd he thinks he is.

https://www.barstoolsports.com/chicago/jimmy-butler-had-dinner-in-chicago-last-night-with-jim-boylen-rumor-he-wants-to-save-the-bulls

[panthermark]

I wouldn't go after a big time FA this year. I don't think overpaying for a 3rd tier guy makes sense.

The only one I'd make an exception for is Jimmy. If you can get him for 4 years and a little less than max, I'd take him back in a heartbeat. I know it's unlikely but I'd make the pitch.

Other than that, I'd get Beverly. Then I'd see if Lavine can be the lead gaurd he thinks he is.

I don't mind Beverly.
As far as "pure" free agents go, he is probably 3rd on my list behind Kemba and Brogdon. I didn't include Irving because he is not coming here (same for Russell). You could probably take Kemba off the list as well...so Beverly moves up to 2nd behind Brogdon.

I just don't know if Beverly wants to leave LA for Chicago, plus he turns 31 in July.

My realistic list (including trades) is basically:
1. Brogdon
2. Jru (better player but costs assets)
3. Beverly
4. Teague (should not cost a lot of assets....1 year left on deal).
5. Curry
6. Satoransky

Have to keep an eye out on a few others...

[NecessaryEvil]

I wouldn't go after a big time FA this year. I don't think overpaying for a 3rd tier guy makes sense.

The only one I'd make an exception for is Jimmy. If you can get him for 4 years and a little less than max, I'd take him back in a heartbeat. I know it's unlikely but I'd make the pitch.

Other than that, I'd get Beverly. Then I'd see if Lavine can be the lead gaurd he thinks he is.

https://www.barstoolsports.com/chicago/jimmy-butler-had-dinner-in-chicago-last-night-with-jim-boylen-rumor-he-wants-to-save-the-bulls

I would LOVE to bring Jimmy back but Philly can obviously offer him more money.

I think Kemba should be the guy right now. S&T and I think its possible due to MJ.

G Walker / Arci
G Lavine / Valentine
F Porter Jr. / Hutchinson
F Markkanen
C Carter Jr.

Still equipped with the #7 & #38

[musiqsoulchild]

I would take our cap space and break it out into 3 veterans.

Darren Collison (12 Million)
Ed Davis ( 5 Million)
Omri Casspi (5 Million)

[PaKii94]

I wouldn't go after a big time FA this year. I don't think overpaying for a 3rd tier guy makes sense.

The only one I'd make an exception for is Jimmy. If you can get him for 4 years and a little less than max, I'd take him back in a heartbeat. I know it's unlikely but I'd make the pitch.

Other than that, I'd get Beverly. Then I'd see if Lavine can be the lead gaurd he thinks he is.

https://www.barstoolsports.com/chicago/jimmy-butler-had-dinner-in-chicago-last-night-with-jim-boylen-rumor-he-wants-to-save-the-bulls

If Jimmy comes back, Bulls playing 4D chess. Trade Jimmy for 3 assets (and avoid super max & treadmilling), tank for 2 years for more assets, sign Jimmy again... Success!!

How to make Jimmy happen:
- get waiver on asik
- dump dunn/denzel/blakeney (use future picks/2nd round picks if necessary)
- stretch or dump felicio (stretch would be easier for obvious purposes)
-Sign Jimmy with capspace


Then we'd have room MLE to sign a vet PG (Rondo/Rose/Beverly (if he wants to come cheap))
and then bring back NOAH as vet big

Lavine/Jimmy/OPJ/Lauri/WCJ
vet PG/#7/Hutch/____/Noah

We would be missing a big but those are easily picked up.


My fantasy is signing Jimmy and flipping OPJ+WCJ+#7+Future pick for a confirmed resigning AD

Vet PG/Lavine/Jimmy/Lauri/AD

[dougthonus]

I think you could get there. Someone would take Lavine and Porter into their cap space. Obviously not together but I think it's doable. Neither are bad deals.

But they're not coming here. There are much better choices than coming to play for this poor excuse of an organization.

I agree they aren't, but the fact that we can't really even go in and pitch what something would look like if we did makes it so that there isn't even a chance.

[TheStig]

I think you could get there. Someone would take Lavine and Porter into their cap space. Obviously not together but I think it's doable. Neither are bad deals.

But they're not coming here. There are much better choices than coming to play for this poor excuse of an organization.

I agree they aren't, but the fact that we can't really even go in and pitch what something would look like if we did makes it so that there isn't even a chance.

I mean we could. The pitch would be KD and Kyrie, come here and play with a good young front court that can stretch the floor.

But I get your point that it's not a nice and neat package.

[dougthonus]

Melo
Bosh
T-MAC
D Howard
Shaq
Arenas
Amare
Hill

If you count Amare, then you can count Boozer whom the Bulls signed.

McGrady / Hill / Shaq are all before 2000, but sure I guess. McGrady was also not really a superstar at the time of his FA departure but a guy thought who had that potential (and ended up achieving it).

Melo, Howard were trades not FA signings

Arenas was no where near a superstar when he left GSW as a FA

[TheStig]

I wouldn't go after a big time FA this year. I don't think overpaying for a 3rd tier guy makes sense.

The only one I'd make an exception for is Jimmy. If you can get him for 4 years and a little less than max, I'd take him back in a heartbeat. I know it's unlikely but I'd make the pitch.

Other than that, I'd get Beverly. Then I'd see if Lavine can be the lead gaurd he thinks he is.

https://www.barstoolsports.com/chicago/jimmy-butler-had-dinner-in-chicago-last-night-with-jim-boylen-rumor-he-wants-to-save-the-bulls

If Jimmy comes back, Bulls playing 4D chess. Trade Jimmy for 3 assets (and avoid super max & treadmilling), tank for 2 years for more assets, sign Jimmy again... Success!!

How to make Jimmy happen:
- get waiver on asik
- dump dunn/denzel/blakeney (use future picks/2nd round picks if necessary)
- stretch or dump felicio (stretch would be easier for obvious purposes)
-Sign Jimmy with capspace


Then we'd have room MLE to sign a vet PG (Rondo/Rose/Beverly (if he wants to come cheap))
and then bring back NOAH as vet big

Lavine/Jimmy/OPJ/Lauri/WCJ
vet PG/#7/Hutch/____/Noah

We would be missing a big but those are easily picked up.


My fantasy is signing Jimmy and flipping OPJ+WCJ+#7+Future pick for a confirmed resigning AD

Vet PG/Lavine/Jimmy/Lauri/AD

Are you sure it's not a bowling pin with Jimmy lol

I mean I don't think think it's impossible. Boylen is a Jimmy type coach and this would be his team. Depends on how much he liked it here.

I wouldn't rule it out. But I also don't think it's likely.

[johnnyvann840]

I wouldn't go after a big time FA this year. I don't think overpaying for a 3rd tier guy makes sense.

The only one I'd make an exception for is Jimmy. If you can get him for 4 years and a little less than max, I'd take him back in a heartbeat. I know it's unlikely but I'd make the pitch.

Other than that, I'd get Beverly. Then I'd see if Lavine can be the lead gaurd he thinks he is.

https://www.barstoolsports.com/chicago/jimmy-butler-had-dinner-in-chicago-last-night-with-jim-boylen-rumor-he-wants-to-save-the-bulls

Is this real?

[TheStig]

I wouldn't go after a big time FA this year. I don't think overpaying for a 3rd tier guy makes sense.

The only one I'd make an exception for is Jimmy. If you can get him for 4 years and a little less than max, I'd take him back in a heartbeat. I know it's unlikely but I'd make the pitch.

Other than that, I'd get Beverly. Then I'd see if Lavine can be the lead gaurd he thinks he is.

https://www.barstoolsports.com/chicago/jimmy-butler-had-dinner-in-chicago-last-night-with-jim-boylen-rumor-he-wants-to-save-the-bulls

I would LOVE to bring Jimmy back but Philly can obviously offer him more money.

I think Kemba should be the guy right now. S&T and I think its possible due to MJ.

G Walker / Arci
G Lavine / Valentine
F Porter Jr. / Hutchinson
F Markkanen
C Carter Jr.

Still equipped with the #7 & #38

Kemba is not coming here. He's either getting the supermax in Charlotte or he's going to go to a big market contender. I secretly hope that he goes to Dallas. I think they'd be really good if they got him.

[johnnyvann840]

My fantasy is signing Jimmy and flipping OPJ+WCJ+#7+Future pick for a confirmed resigning AD

Vet PG/Lavine/Jimmy/Lauri/AD

Keep OPJ, put Lavine in that deal. Jimmy is a much better match with Otto. Jimmy wants the ball. Jimmy should get the ball. Besides, as good as Lavine's raw stats were last year, he barely even got into postive impact territory on one of the worst teams in the NBA when his replacements were marginally even NBA caliber players. It would have been nearly impossible to be a net negative in that situation but it was still close. OPJ, however, is like Jimmy. I highly positive impact player and he doesn't NEED the ball in his hands.

But either way. Bring Jimmy back and get AD here and let's have some fun.

[League Circles]

Pretty sure only ONE superstar has left his team in the individual max era and that's Lebron.

LeBron, KD, and that's about it.

Just off the top of my head, you forgot:
Melo
Bosh
T-MAC
D Howard
Shaq
Arenas
Amare
Hill


There are others....as some players were free agents or pending free agents that ended up being S&T'd because they FORCED their way to said team.

Post MJ, we have yet to sign, or S&T for a star player in his prime. Boozer, Gasol, Wallace, and getting Brad Miller may have been our best pick-ups. Those are solid pick-ups, but (given the age of some), nothing franchise shifting.

We might be a gigantic media market with 6 banners hanging from the rafters, but we are NOT a prime FA destination. We are more like a small market FA destination. Compare us to NY or LA....the gap is huge. Hell, compare us to Miami or Dallas....

Melo never left as a FA and wasn't a superstar IMO.

Bosh was never a superstar.

Shaq left before individual max existed. Different game.

Arenas a superstar? Lol.

Amare was not a superstar and the Bulls genuinely preferred Boozer.

TMac certainly wasn't a superstar when he signed with Orlando.

Howard might not have been a superstar IMO but I'll give you him.

Grant Hill I'll give you.

So the list is basically Lebron, Grant Hill, limited Dwight Howard and KD in a total anomaly year.

[PaKii94]

My fantasy is signing Jimmy and flipping OPJ+WCJ+#7+Future pick for a confirmed resigning AD

Vet PG/Lavine/Jimmy/Lauri/AD

Keep OPJ, put Lavine in that deal. Jimmy is a much better match with Otto. Jimmy wants the ball. Jimmy should get the ball. Besides, as good as Lavine's raw stats were last year, he barely even got into postive impact territory on one of the worst teams in the NBA when his replacements were marginally even NBA caliber players. It would have been nearly impossible to be a net negative in that situation but it was still close. OPJ, however, is like Jimmy. I highly positive impact player and he doesn't NEED the ball in his hands.

I was on that too but Lavine changed my mind the last few weeks of the season. 'Team ball' seemed to click with him. If he can make just a few minor improvements he can be a strong positive player. His scoring ability would be very valuable next to jimmy. I see Jimmy coming in and providing what OPJ provides (vet leadership/stabilization) and a bit more playmaking (defacto PG). This way, as he ages, Lavine & Lauri can take up scoring burden (hopefully meanwhile improving their game) while Jimmy fades to an elite role player.

Moving Lavine, we come back to Jimmy doing everything with the ball.

[panthermark]

Melo
Bosh
T-MAC
D Howard
Shaq
Arenas
Amare
Hill

If you count Amare, then you can count Boozer whom the Bulls signed.

McGrady / Hill / Shaq are all before 2000, but sure I guess. McGrady was also not really a superstar at the time of his FA departure but a guy thought who had that potential (and ended up achieving it).

Melo, Howard were trades not FA signings

Arenas was no where near a superstar when he left GSW as a FA

As I stated, some stars forced their way to other teams (via S&T). Howard forced his way out of Orlando and went to.......the Lakers! And how did he get to Houston?
Melo forced his way out of Denver (using us for leverage) and went to....the Knicks!

Boozer is our "biggest" prime star signing since Rodman....and he was at best, in the 2nd tier of FA's in 201O. (Bron, Wade, Dirk, Bosh, Pierce, Johnson, Boozer, Amare, Gay, Lee, ect...).

Lakers get whomever they want whenever they want. The league had to step in and cancel traded to the Lakers.
We are not even in the discussion for AD, Kyrie, or KD, yet somehow the Knicks are.

The results speak for themselves. You can try to say that not that many players leave, but as one of the so called "big markets", the players that DO leave are NOT leaving for us.
We are about as attractive as other mid-market team. Being the 7th or 8th most attractive spot is about like being the tallest midget.
It is what it is.