milkshakeballa
12-31-2009, 01:04 PM
The Chicago Bulls won their second game in a row on Tuesday night, their second straight with Kirk Hinrich in the starting lineup in place of John Salmons.
Through 27 games, Salmons got the nod and the Bulls won just 10. Now with Hinrich, the Bulls are showing a desperately needed pulse. Fortunately for Chicago, a 12-17 record is currently good enough for a sixth seed in the Eastern Conference.
Last season Salmons gave the Bulls a major lift when he came over from the Sacramento Kings, averaging 18.3 points and 3.7 assists in 53 games. In that stretch, he shot 47.2% from the field and 41.8% from three.
This year John has all but lost his stroke, dipping down to 13.2 points a game on just 38.5% shooting from the field
Of course, Hinrich hasn't been able to hit anything either, averaging 8.7 points on 36.3% shooting from the field. Then again in his brief time as a starter, he's shot 45.0% - averaging 12 points and six assists a game.
The Bulls are in somewhat of a quandary. There are coaching issues and underachieving issues but what's most pressing may be financial. It's not how much they are or aren't making this season. The concern is payroll for next year - specifically how it pertains to the free agent class of 2010.
The Bulls have seven players under contract this summer for a total of $37.7 million. That's simply too much.
While there's no certainty that a Dwyane Wade, LeBron James or Chris Bosh would be willing to come to Chicago, the team essentially HAS to be in the financial position to make an offer.
The trio of All-Stars will each be eligible for deals starting at about $16.6 million (depending on the salary cap number) this summer.
Assuming the Bulls renounce the rights to all of their free agents including Tyrus Thomas, Brad Miller and Aaron Gray, the team's salary computation will come in at about $41.6 million (including four minimum cap holds and roughly $2 million for their 2010 first-round pick).
With teams generally projecting the cap to come in at about $54 million, Chicago is set to have just $12.4 million to spend.
To make a viable offer to someone like the Chicago-born Wade, the Bulls are going to need to clear about $4.2 million in space.
That means one of Salmons or Hinrich has to go.
Now if the Bulls can find a taker for Luol Deng and his four additional years at $51.3 million, that would certainly change the formula but in this economic climate it'd be highly unlikely.
At this point, the team has no intention to move Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson. That leaves Salmons, Hinrich and to a lesser extent rookie forward James Johnson.
One option might be to find a team with a cap space or a trade exception big enough to take on Johnson and his $1.7 million contract for next season. The Bulls can even give up their first-round pick - those two moves may add up to roughly $3.7 million - potentially enough to satisfy someone like Wade.
Then again, giving up first-round draft picks doesn't make a lot of sense when the team's highest paid guards are both shooting less than 40.0%.
Salmons has just one year left (after the current season) at $5.8 million. Hinrich will get $9 and $8 million over the next two.
The problem is finding a home for players who aren't playing particularly well and whose contracts aren't expiring - when most teams are looking to clear space to either save money or get under the cap for 2010.
The Houston Rockets are shopping Tracy McGrady's $22.5 million expiring contract. As noted by Mike McGrady of the Aurora Daily Herald, the Bulls are interested.Chicago could come up with a package to make numbers match (Brad Miller and Jerome James are also expiring) but would Houston have interest in Salmons? (Hinrich wouldn't be an obvious match with Aaron Brooks and Kyle Lowry both playing well).
The Charlotte Bobcats haven't shied away from taking on long-term deals but their primary expiring player, Raymond Felton, has the ability to block any trade. Even if the Bobcats were interested in a player like Hinrich, Felton may not want to give up his Bird Rights to join the Bulls.
Would Salmons be a good fit with the Utah Jazz for a player like Kyle Korver?
There's always the possibility that an unexpected team makes an offer (Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks, Portland Trail Blazers - although they're desperate for size, San Antonio Spurs or Washington Wizards) but the list of teams Chicago has to work with may be prohibitive.
One other option stands out. The Los Angeles Lakers have all but locked in their core for the next 3-4 years. Once Bryant is re-upped (an extension is expected at some point, perhaps over the summer), the team will have Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, Lamar Odom, Ron Artest, Luke Walton and Bryant under contract for at least 2-3 more years. What's missing in the equation is a point guard.
Derek Fisher, already 35 years old and in the last year of his deal, is visibly slowing down. While he's indicated he hopes to continue with the team beyond the current season, the Lakers have to consider his long-term replacement.
Jordan Farmar isn't fond of the triangle offense and as a restricted free agent isn't going to get paid to stay as a starter. Shannon Brown has proven to be a productive reserve but plays the majority of his minutes at the off-guard spot.
L.A. has had interest in Hinrich since the days Bryant was trying to force a trade to the Bulls.
They may not have the most attractive package at first glance but the expiring contracts of Adam Morrison and Farmar along with the two-year deal of Sasha Vujacic might be a viable offer to the Bulls.
The Lakers aren't in a position to bring another $9 million a year player in but if they can be rid of Vujacic extra year at $5.5 million while solidifying their core - that's a deal they too might jump at.
The knee-jerk reaction might be Sasha Vujacic? Really?
If Chicago included rookie forward James Johnson (shooting 37.3% from the field) along with Hinrich, the Bulls would clear $4.8 million from next summer's cap. That's $17.2 million to spend in free agency - more than enough to land a max player.
The Lakers may also be able to use a versatile player like Salmons for Morrison, which would probably be more readily available than Hinrich.
The question would be to Chicago, what's the priority? Salmons has a shorter deal but hasn't been productive.
Hinrich has been a steady presence for a number of years but if the team did manage to land Wade, they'd still have $9 million a season committed to a backup guard.
If free agency yields Chris Bosh, Hinrich may be more useful with a core of Rose, Hinrich, Deng, Bosh and Noah.
For now it appears the Bulls will explore moving Salmons ahead of Hinrich. Some time is needed to see if Kirk's positive influence in the starting lineup continues.
Of course if the team can try to move both Salmons and Hinrich, that might be the best of all worlds - opening up about $22.5 million to spend in July.
A max offer to Wade and about $6 million for a power forward? That could be enough to either keep Tyrus Thomas or lure a free agent like Al Harrington (probably the best four Chicago would be able to get for their money).
The Bulls still have a lot to deal with just to survive the current season where they're in playoff position, have frustrated fans and may make a coaching change.
All that is significant but similar to the situation the New York Knicks face trying to make the best of a throwaway year; the true value for the Chicago Bulls is in cap space in 2010.
Through 27 games, Salmons got the nod and the Bulls won just 10. Now with Hinrich, the Bulls are showing a desperately needed pulse. Fortunately for Chicago, a 12-17 record is currently good enough for a sixth seed in the Eastern Conference.
Last season Salmons gave the Bulls a major lift when he came over from the Sacramento Kings, averaging 18.3 points and 3.7 assists in 53 games. In that stretch, he shot 47.2% from the field and 41.8% from three.
This year John has all but lost his stroke, dipping down to 13.2 points a game on just 38.5% shooting from the field
Of course, Hinrich hasn't been able to hit anything either, averaging 8.7 points on 36.3% shooting from the field. Then again in his brief time as a starter, he's shot 45.0% - averaging 12 points and six assists a game.
The Bulls are in somewhat of a quandary. There are coaching issues and underachieving issues but what's most pressing may be financial. It's not how much they are or aren't making this season. The concern is payroll for next year - specifically how it pertains to the free agent class of 2010.
The Bulls have seven players under contract this summer for a total of $37.7 million. That's simply too much.
While there's no certainty that a Dwyane Wade, LeBron James or Chris Bosh would be willing to come to Chicago, the team essentially HAS to be in the financial position to make an offer.
The trio of All-Stars will each be eligible for deals starting at about $16.6 million (depending on the salary cap number) this summer.
Assuming the Bulls renounce the rights to all of their free agents including Tyrus Thomas, Brad Miller and Aaron Gray, the team's salary computation will come in at about $41.6 million (including four minimum cap holds and roughly $2 million for their 2010 first-round pick).
With teams generally projecting the cap to come in at about $54 million, Chicago is set to have just $12.4 million to spend.
To make a viable offer to someone like the Chicago-born Wade, the Bulls are going to need to clear about $4.2 million in space.
That means one of Salmons or Hinrich has to go.
Now if the Bulls can find a taker for Luol Deng and his four additional years at $51.3 million, that would certainly change the formula but in this economic climate it'd be highly unlikely.
At this point, the team has no intention to move Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson. That leaves Salmons, Hinrich and to a lesser extent rookie forward James Johnson.
One option might be to find a team with a cap space or a trade exception big enough to take on Johnson and his $1.7 million contract for next season. The Bulls can even give up their first-round pick - those two moves may add up to roughly $3.7 million - potentially enough to satisfy someone like Wade.
Then again, giving up first-round draft picks doesn't make a lot of sense when the team's highest paid guards are both shooting less than 40.0%.
Salmons has just one year left (after the current season) at $5.8 million. Hinrich will get $9 and $8 million over the next two.
The problem is finding a home for players who aren't playing particularly well and whose contracts aren't expiring - when most teams are looking to clear space to either save money or get under the cap for 2010.
The Houston Rockets are shopping Tracy McGrady's $22.5 million expiring contract. As noted by Mike McGrady of the Aurora Daily Herald, the Bulls are interested.Chicago could come up with a package to make numbers match (Brad Miller and Jerome James are also expiring) but would Houston have interest in Salmons? (Hinrich wouldn't be an obvious match with Aaron Brooks and Kyle Lowry both playing well).
The Charlotte Bobcats haven't shied away from taking on long-term deals but their primary expiring player, Raymond Felton, has the ability to block any trade. Even if the Bobcats were interested in a player like Hinrich, Felton may not want to give up his Bird Rights to join the Bulls.
Would Salmons be a good fit with the Utah Jazz for a player like Kyle Korver?
There's always the possibility that an unexpected team makes an offer (Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks, Portland Trail Blazers - although they're desperate for size, San Antonio Spurs or Washington Wizards) but the list of teams Chicago has to work with may be prohibitive.
One other option stands out. The Los Angeles Lakers have all but locked in their core for the next 3-4 years. Once Bryant is re-upped (an extension is expected at some point, perhaps over the summer), the team will have Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, Lamar Odom, Ron Artest, Luke Walton and Bryant under contract for at least 2-3 more years. What's missing in the equation is a point guard.
Derek Fisher, already 35 years old and in the last year of his deal, is visibly slowing down. While he's indicated he hopes to continue with the team beyond the current season, the Lakers have to consider his long-term replacement.
Jordan Farmar isn't fond of the triangle offense and as a restricted free agent isn't going to get paid to stay as a starter. Shannon Brown has proven to be a productive reserve but plays the majority of his minutes at the off-guard spot.
L.A. has had interest in Hinrich since the days Bryant was trying to force a trade to the Bulls.
They may not have the most attractive package at first glance but the expiring contracts of Adam Morrison and Farmar along with the two-year deal of Sasha Vujacic might be a viable offer to the Bulls.
The Lakers aren't in a position to bring another $9 million a year player in but if they can be rid of Vujacic extra year at $5.5 million while solidifying their core - that's a deal they too might jump at.
The knee-jerk reaction might be Sasha Vujacic? Really?
If Chicago included rookie forward James Johnson (shooting 37.3% from the field) along with Hinrich, the Bulls would clear $4.8 million from next summer's cap. That's $17.2 million to spend in free agency - more than enough to land a max player.
The Lakers may also be able to use a versatile player like Salmons for Morrison, which would probably be more readily available than Hinrich.
The question would be to Chicago, what's the priority? Salmons has a shorter deal but hasn't been productive.
Hinrich has been a steady presence for a number of years but if the team did manage to land Wade, they'd still have $9 million a season committed to a backup guard.
If free agency yields Chris Bosh, Hinrich may be more useful with a core of Rose, Hinrich, Deng, Bosh and Noah.
For now it appears the Bulls will explore moving Salmons ahead of Hinrich. Some time is needed to see if Kirk's positive influence in the starting lineup continues.
Of course if the team can try to move both Salmons and Hinrich, that might be the best of all worlds - opening up about $22.5 million to spend in July.
A max offer to Wade and about $6 million for a power forward? That could be enough to either keep Tyrus Thomas or lure a free agent like Al Harrington (probably the best four Chicago would be able to get for their money).
The Bulls still have a lot to deal with just to survive the current season where they're in playoff position, have frustrated fans and may make a coaching change.
All that is significant but similar to the situation the New York Knicks face trying to make the best of a throwaway year; the true value for the Chicago Bulls is in cap space in 2010.