Not sure if anyone noticed, but Paxson has angled this team to have capspace in 2010. In year 3 of their extensions, Gordon/Deng will be making about 10 million each. Michael Beasley will be making 4.6 million in year 3. Joakim Noah will be due 3.1 million. That is a total of 27.7 million. Paxson has been aggresively shopping Nocioni/Hinrich. If he does his usual expiring contracts, we won't have to deal with them. We'll have Tyrus Thomas and Thabo Sefolosha as restricted free agents. Tyrus has a 14.1 million caphold, and Sefolosha a 8.1 million caphold. This is for a total of when adding those two to the mix, 49.9 million. The cap will likely be at 63 million. This will give the Bulls 13.1 million in capspace (the max would be 15.8). We would be able to offer 76.6 million over 5 years...not bad. However, if we agree to a deal with Tyrus starting at around 9 million right away, then we are up to 18.2 million in capspace, and can offer a max deal starting at 15.75 million, which would be 92.1 million over 5 years. We would still have enough money to sign another free agent for a deal starting at 2.45. Max the Cavs can offer is 95.3 over 5 years, or 119.3 million over 6 years. (In the first 6 years, the most we can offer is 116.8 for the first 6 years. Financially, we can be competitive with the Cavs for Lebron. If we get Lebron, than we would have: PG-Lebron James SG-Ben Gordon/Thabo Sefolosha SF-Luol Deng PF-Michael Beasley C- Tyrus Thomas/Joakim Noah That would be one of the greatest teams in NBA history easily. Miami and Cleveland will be our main competitors for Lebron in 2010 if we choose to clear caproom. I just don't see Lebron wanting to stay in Cleveland when he can join Gordon/Deng/Beasley/Thomas/Noah in Chicago, or Rose/Marion/Wade in Miami.
I think New York and New Jersey will have a lot of cap room in 2010 as well. Personally, when it's all said and done, I still think Lebron will resign with Cleveland when his contract expires. If not Cleveland, then New Jersey would be the next logical choice because Jay-Z is his BFF. Jersey also has a lot of good young talent, so the Nets should be a pretty attractive destination in a couple of years (when they move out of the swamp) Also, when the hell did Lebron play point guard
There's cap holds for the 6 empty roster spots in that scenario. If LeBron is going anywhere, it'd be to NY or LA. FA is not the only way he'd get there (S&T).
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BG7 Lavigne @ Jun 17 2008, 05:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Not sure if anyone noticed, but Paxson has angled this team to have capspace in 2010. In year 3 of their extensions, Gordon/Deng will be making about 10 million each. Michael Beasley will be making 4.6 million in year 3. Joakim Noah will be due 3.1 million. That is a total of 27.7 million. Paxson has been aggresively shopping Nocioni/Hinrich. If he does his usual expiring contracts, we won't have to deal with them. We'll have Tyrus Thomas and Thabo Sefolosha as restricted free agents. Tyrus has a 14.1 million caphold, and Sefolosha a 8.1 million caphold. This is for a total of when adding those two to the mix, 49.9 million. The cap will likely be at 63 million. This will give the Bulls 13.1 million in capspace (the max would be 15.8). We would be able to offer 76.6 million over 5 years...not bad. However, if we agree to a deal with Tyrus starting at around 9 million right away, then we are up to 18.2 million in capspace, and can offer a max deal starting at 15.75 million, which would be 92.1 million over 5 years. We would still have enough money to sign another free agent for a deal starting at 2.45. Max the Cavs can offer is 95.3 over 5 years, or 119.3 million over 6 years. (In the first 6 years, the most we can offer is 116.8 for the first 6 years. Financially, we can be competitive with the Cavs for Lebron. If we get Lebron, than we would have: PG-Lebron James SG-Ben Gordon/Thabo Sefolosha SF-Luol Deng PF-Michael Beasley C- Tyrus Thomas/Joakim Noah That would be one of the greatest teams in NBA history easily. Miami and Cleveland will be our main competitors for Lebron in 2010 if we choose to clear caproom. I just don't see Lebron wanting to stay in Cleveland when he can join Gordon/Deng/Beasley/Thomas/Noah in Chicago, or Rose/Marion/Wade in Miami.</div> What the hell are you smoking? <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Brian @ Jun 17 2008, 05:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I think New York and New Jersey will have a lot of cap room in 2010 as well. Personally, when it's all said and done, I still think Lebron will resign with Cleveland when his contract expires. If not Cleveland, then New Jersey would be the next logical choice because Jay-Z is his BFF. Jersey also has a lot of good young talent, so the Nets should be a pretty attractive destination in a couple of years (when they move out of the swamp) Also, when the hell did Lebron play point guard</div> I have him at PG in my NBA Live 2006 dynasty. Fucking beastly.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BG7 Lavigne @ Jun 17 2008, 05:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>That would be one of the greatest teams in NBA history easily.</div> haha you are a gem
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Brian @ Jun 17 2008, 04:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I think New York and New Jersey will have a lot of cap room in 2010 as well. Personally, when it's all said and done, I still think Lebron will resign with Cleveland when his contract expires. If not Cleveland, then New Jersey would be the next logical choice because Jay-Z is his BFF. Jersey also has a lot of good young talent, so the Nets should be a pretty attractive destination in a couple of years (when they move out of the swamp) Also, when the hell did Lebron play point guard</div> I can't see him wanting New Jersey, unless they land a #1 pick or something. They just have Harris, Jefferson, and William...and you can't really tell how Williams will turn out. Richard Jefferson will be 30 in 2010. New york, I doubt that one as well. I agree that I could see him staying in Cleveland, but you have to cross your fingers and hope that they fall to the bottom half of the Eastern Conference. Ben Gordon will be 27, Luol Deng 25, Michael Beasley 21, Joakim Noah 25, Tyrus Thomas 24, and Thabo Sefolosha 26. Lebron will be 26. You would hope that he would feel he fits with that group, and they could rule the league for a good 10 years. Denny, you're right. We would have a roster charge for 6 roster spots. If we sign Tyrus right away, we could start the contract at 15.4 million, if we start Tyrus at 8.6 instead of 9 million, we can sign Lebron to a max. Tyrus would be getting 65 million over 6 years under such a scenario...not bad for him. Miami with Rose, Wade, and Marion would be rivaling us a bit. Him and wade are pretty good friends. However, Shawn Marion will be 32. Wade will be 28 and Rose 21...so they could play with Lebron a bit. If you feel you can get Lebron, I think Paxson has to clear the capspace here. If we miss out on Lebron, we could still land Wade, Joe Johnson, Chris Bosh, or Carmelo Anthony.
Look at what Lebron did with his crappy Cavs teammates. If he has Gordon, Deng, and Beasley with him, that team will be near unstoppable.
The guy averaged 7.2 APG this past year....I'm willing to give him a shot at running point guard full time.
1) I'd bet your life Paxson will take Rose 2) As Denny pointed out, the math is off because of the other roster spots 3) LBJ is going to go to a team and play out of position 4) I'd love to see the Bulls waste a lot of money on Tyrus
Well, here's the rest of the flaws in this line of thinking. 1) Gordon won't be here 2) Bulls are going to draft Rose 3) Tyrus Thomas basically sucks 4) Thabo is a mediocre starter 5) The cap holds for unfilled roster spots is like $400K per spot, or almost $2.5M of cap space 6) Both the Knicks and the Lakers are willing to spend over the LT threshold (and still profit) 7) LeBron is more likely to become a PF than a PG as he gets older 8) Marion's not going to be with Miami after this season 9) LeBron and Cavs went to the Finals last season It looks to me like they're rebuilding on the fly and will have Ben Wallace's contract, Wallyworld's contract, and Marshall's contract off the books in 2010 to beef up the team with LeBron via free agency. In fact, LeBron at $16M is the only current player on the roster who's signed through 2010, leaving Cleveland with $63M - $17M worth of cap space by your figuring. EDIT: that's if they sign LeBron to a big deal.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Brian @ Jun 17 2008, 05:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I don't get it. Lebron can play point guard? I never knew that</div> Well, Ben Gordon will be on the team, so he can be the PG
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Brian @ Jun 17 2008, 02:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I don't get it. Lebron can play point guard? I never knew that</div> To be fair, I am quite sure LeBron played PG as a rookie, and he was expected to be a PG. Now that he's filled out his frame, he's not looking like a guy to play PG anymore. EDIT: FYI http://82games.com/03CLE5C.HTM 29% of Cleveland's minutes at PG as a rookie
Lebron will work as a point guard on our team. The problem with him at point guard was defending other point guards. Here, he would be allowed to guard the shooting guard (or small forward if Deng guards the shooting guard). Gordon has carved out a niche guarding point guards. Lebron at point guard would be such a big mismatch.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BG7 Lavigne @ Jun 17 2008, 07:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Lebron will work as a point guard on our team. The problem with him at point guard was defending other point guards. Here, he would be allowed to guard the shooting guard (or small forward if Deng guards the shooting guard). Gordon has carved out a niche guarding point guards. Lebron at point guard would be such a big mismatch.</div> The opposing point guard would guard Gordon, the opposing SG/SF would guard Deng/Lebron. It works both ways.
BG7....Ahhhh. Do you take pride in make believe things? Like math and such. I mean, I could do that too you know. LeBron to Toronto in 2010! Okay, well since the Raptors are the bestest team evea!11!!1!! I'm going to go out and say, we'll have 90 million in cap room becuase BC will of signed Moon to a 50 mill contract and Parker to a 40 mill. Their contract will be up, so we add LBJ! We pay him all 90 milll and he stays forever. Now we have a team like this: PG - LBJ SG - Bosh SF - Calderon PF - Kris C - Bargnani Now, Bosh will play SG because he shot like 36% and so you know. The, you have the greatest team in NBA history with LBJ, Bosh and Bargnani. Hooray for me and the Raptors!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Master Shake @ Jun 17 2008, 07:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>BG7....Ahhhh. Do you take pride in make believe things? Like math and such. I mean, I could do that too you know. LeBron to Toronto in 2010! Okay, well since the Raptors are the bestest team evea!11!!1!! I'm going to go out and say, we'll have 90 million in cap room becuase BC will of signed Moon to a 50 mill contract and Parker to a 40 mill. Their contract will be up, so we add LBJ! We pay him all 90 milll and he stays forever. Now we have a team like this: PG - LBJ SG - Bosh SF - Calderon PF - Kris C - Bargnani Now, Bosh will play SG because he shot like 36% and so you know. The, you have the greatest team in NBA history with LBJ, Bosh and Bargnani. Hooray for me and the Raptors!</div> awesome
Im not going to pile on....with BG7's political predictions and bulls predictions, he has enough dissapointment coming without me in his face....
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kid Chocolate @ Jun 17 2008, 06:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BG7 Lavigne @ Jun 17 2008, 07:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Lebron will work as a point guard on our team. The problem with him at point guard was defending other point guards. Here, he would be allowed to guard the shooting guard (or small forward if Deng guards the shooting guard). Gordon has carved out a niche guarding point guards. Lebron at point guard would be such a big mismatch.</div> The opposing point guard would guard Gordon, the opposing SG/SF would guard Deng/Lebron. It works both ways. </div> That is pretty good too. When he had an opposing point guard on him (Kidd being the exception), he usually would torch them. Having a smaller player on Gordon will help his game a ton. Although I suppose the small forward would probably guard Lebron, and the shooting guard on Deng. Although no matter how you slice it, Gordon-Deng-Lebron is a great perimeter trio.
