dougthonus wrote:2022 is a potentially really interesting FA year.
I don't really see how any of the big names end up here, because even assuming after you've just given Zach a max deal and renounced everyone except him, Vucevic, Pat, Coby, and your '22 pick, you don't actually have enough cap room for a gigantic 10+ year vet max. And even if you did…I don't see why they would come to Chicago, or even be wanted by them in the first place.
Harden (likely just signs an extension before free agency)
Durant (same)
Kyrie (unless the guys above are coming with him, dear god no)
Steph (he ain't goin nowhere, he is retiring there, or maybe Charlotte when he's 40)
Beal (well what's the point of that)
Jimmy (lol)
Paul (you really wanna sign a 37-year-old PG?)
The closest thing to a "star" you're basically left with is…Randle.
I think what happens is you see the same team next year with maybe a random semi-cheap vet PG like a Patty Mills. And then in '22, it's the team without Thad/Sato and maybe an attempt at a Thad replacement like a Covington.
I think they save up for 2023 and go after VanVleet (Hey Rockford! That's almost Chicago!) or Brogdon, or do the equivalent of the Vucevic trade before free agency, and trade for another B-lister still under contract like a CJ McCollum or something, nuking all the cap space.