http://ken-berger.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/11838893/20035997 In addition to peddling Kirk Hinrich, sources say the Bulls also are exploring interest in Luol Deng, who has four years and $51 million left after this season. Trading both of them – or packaging one of them with Thomas – would provide Chicago with enough cap space to score two max free agents this coming summer, effectively placing them on equal footing with the Heat in the 2010 chase. Portland has joined San Antonio, Denver, Charlotte, and Sacramento in the pursuit of Tyrus Thomas, with one person familiar with the situation characterizing the Blazers as “close” to finding a workable scenario. Rival execs have contradicted that account, saying the Bulls are telling them they need to sweeten their offers. Chicago is seeking a quality draft pick in addition to cap relief. Denver and Charlotte have conditional 2010 second-round picks from previous trades, and Denver also could offer a second-round pick that can be swapped with the Clippers.
If the Bulls do jettison Deng, would the Bulls really shell out for 2 huge FA deals with Rose and Noah right around the corner from big contracts?
They'll pay if the game is rigged in their favor. And even then, they'll only do it for a while, and Jerry Reinsdorf will stay up at night because of it.
Oh im not holdin my breath either. Like I said in another thread, I dont think theyre gonna make a major move.
UPDATE FROM MARC STEIN VIA TWITTER.... Three-way trade possibility in @chadfordinsider piece: Hinrich to LAL; Outlaw/Blake/Juwan Howard/Morrison to CHI; Ty Thomas/Vujacic to POR about 1 hour ago from UberTwitter
As a last resort, I think that's a pretty good trade. Blake and Outlaw more or less = Hinrich, Thomas and we shed salary for next summer.
The thing is, we can sign 2 FAs, blah blah, but we'd still have to replace Hinrich and Thomas, or at least their positions. I think the idea of getting Blake and Outlaw is to play out the season and let them walk for the cap space. Then re-sign them when the big name FAs don't move or don't come here.
Of all the deals with expirings coming this way, seems like more of a 1st resort to me. Look like those 2 just got traded to LAC however.
That deal would've been so sweet. Hm, what are the chances Hinrich gets shipped out Denny? What are the Bulls looking to get for him?
After two years worth of talking about trading Kurt for those guys, they get traded for another guy that was rumored at one time to be almost be traded for Kurt. Weird and kind of unfulfulling.
