Can Chicago land a top free agent this summer?

[D2Procon]

They are doing pretty good this year and are probably the best team in the NBA right now who can afford signing a Wade/Lebron/Bosh caliber type of player this summer. I can see one of those free agents interested in the Bulls because they are already a good team 5-6th seed. We are a Lebron/Wade away from winning champions.

Heres a post I got from realgm


We actually can acquire two max free agents. But only in a non-traditional way. Say our targets are LeBron James and Chris Bosh, and let's for optimistic reasons say both agree to come to Chicago.

Yes, yes. I know. But let's play along.

Rules:

Cap is at $55 million.

LeBron and Bosh are signed using the 105% rule since it'd give them more than the 30% rule

Salaries for both in 2010/2011: $16,568,908

Step 1. Kirk Hinrich and John Salmons moved for expirings, and Tyrus Thomas renounced. Cap will be at $22,850,976 - Leaving $32,149,024 in free cap space. It's close to working right under salary cap rules, but we're coming up shy $494,396.

Step 2. Sign Chris Bosh outright or if Toronto agrees, sign and trade Bosh to a six year deal to Chicago for a 2nd rounder much like the Rashard Lewis deal.

Step 3. We won't have max cap space for James, lacking close to half a million, but we will have the contract of James Johnson or Taj Gibson. Sign and trade LeBron James to Chicago for the rights to our 2010 draft pick and James Johnson will solve that problem.

Salaries:

LeBron James - $16,568,908
Chris Bosh - $16,568,908
Luol Deng - $11,345,000
Derrick Rose - $5,546,160
Joakim Noah - $3,128,536
Taj Gibson - $1,117,680

Total: $54,275,192

It's then possible to move Deng for a SG making around $8.5 million, clearing up a little over $3.5 million to fill out the roster.

Now I know we aren't going to get both Lebron or Bosh but one of them is sufficient for us.

[Allanon]

Chicago is a big market. They're front runners for a Wade/Bosh type player (if they leave their current teams).

I don't think LeBron would go play in Mike's city in the shadow of Mike's statue but I guess it's possible.

[DxB]

Rose needs a big... if they get Bosh it wud be fucking sick! Rose is gna bring back the Bulls!!!

[baseline bum]

They are doing pretty good this year and are probably the best team in the NBA right now who can afford signing a Wade/Lebron/Bosh caliber type of player this summer. I can see one of those free agents interested in the Bulls because they are already a good team 5-6th seed. We are a Lebron/Wade away from winning champions.

Heres a post I got from realgm



Now I know we aren't going to get both Lebron or Bosh but one of them is sufficient for us.

At least half the league is a LeBron/Wade away from winning the title.

[D2Procon]

At least half the league is a LeBron/Wade away from winning the title.

Im referring to the teams who have enough money to sign them in the offseason.

[ffadicted]

I think the chances of Chicago landing at least one of Bosh/Lebron/Wade is well about 50%. This is because out of all the teams with enough capspace, they probably have the brightest future, especially with Rose there.

[baseline bum]

James + Bosh can't happen even in that scenario laid out in the OP. That RealGM post forgot a couple of things.

1) No James Johnson, who gets $1.71 million next season
2) With Deng, Rose, Noah, Johnson, Gibson, and James, they'd still have 5 open spots under 11, giving them a cap hit of 5*$473,604 = $2.37 million

Therefore, their cap numbers would be

1) Luol Deng: $11,355,850
2) Derrick Rose: $5,546,160
3) Joachim Noah: $3,128,536
4) James Johnson: $1,713,600
5) Taj Gibson: $1,117,680
6) LeBron James: $16,568,907.60
7,8,9,10,11) 5 roster spots under 11 = $2,368,020

That only leaves $13,201,246.40 to offer Bosh.

[baseline bum]

I think the chances of Chicago landing at least one of Bosh/Lebron/Wade is well about 50%. This is because out of all the teams with enough capspace, they probably have the brightest future, especially with Rose there.

I don't. I think Miami's going to be the big winner this summer. It seems like every NBA free-agent every season is dying to go there, and Miami is the only team that can have 2 of those 3 high profile FAs on it.

[ffadicted]

I don't. I think Miami's going to be the big winner this summer. It seems like every NBA free-agent every season is dying to go there, and Miami is the only team that can have 2 of those 3 high profile FAs on it.

Yeah, I definitly agree Miami is in the best situation, probably because of the highest likelihood that their star resigns and it's a nice location. You can't deny Chicago is in the top running though, and even if DWade stays and Bosh/Lebron go to Miami, chicago could be a very likely place for the remaining star to go.