One thing that's kind of stunk from a fan perspective is that, now that the Bulls actually sealed the deal and cemented themselves in max cap-space land, there's not all that much to talk about. There's a lot of anticipation, of course, but not that much grist for discussion in that anticipation. We know who the big targets are, we've looked at the evidence and concluded Joe Johnson is a disaster waiting to happen, we're more or less waiting to see what happens. So I guess my big question is... is it really all settled? Do we really sit on our hands waiting for free agency to start? One thing I was pretty interested to see today was that the Jazz might be entertaining re-signing Carlos Boozer. I'm a little skeptical of this, but ok, lets run with it. Were the Jazz to do it, they're probably over the luxury tax again with the last year of AK-47's deal sitting there, so they probably need some way to get under it. Also, they have the Knicks pick in the lottery. So this got me to thinking. Would the Jazz consider giving up that lottery pick to unload $18M worth of Andrei Kirilenko? My hometown Pacers are in an even worse jam. They suck and are due to be paying the tax next year without some major cleanup on aisle TJ Ford and Mike Dunleavy Jr. And oh yeah, they're going to have a high lottery pick. So would either of those teams give up their pick to escape the tax? Would we give up our cap room to get Evan Turner or Derrick Favors? By the way the former looked great beating the latter today, looked pedestrian.
There will be deals out there this summer and even by the deadline. Remember the 2011 cap is coming like it or not. My concern is I hope JF has been clearing salary for this summer, to make a splash in the FA marker or/and to better our team and not to just clearsalary for 2011. The hope I have that it is the former is we did try and get major FA's before. So I am hoping we will try again in 2010.
I think something has to come along this Summer, because if we wait around with the "PJ Brown was only acquired to be traded" card again I might puke. I think the goal has to get a difference-maker. The only places we can get that is in free agency or the draft. I don't think someone is going to trade that sort of guy to us, but I could be wrong.
The biggest issue is that there’s really a big difference between the true Superstar players, who I’d limit to Wade, Bosh and Lebron, and everyone else, like Amare, Lee, Boozer and Johnson. Those latter guys are clearly a tier or two behind the big three. If we have a really legitimate shot at getting Bosh or Lebron, than I tend to think we should go for it. But if Lebron wins a title in Cleveland and Bosh beats our ass to get in the playoffs, I’m gonna have a hard time seeing that happen. I’m sort of torn on Wade. His numbers undeniably put him in the top tier, but he’s older, plays a style that’s super hard on his body, and seems the least compatible of all with Rose. Finally, out of all the vibes I get from these guys, his make him seem least likely to want to come here. But that’s just my perception. So I sort of count him out to start with. So if the big 2 guys look off the table, then yeah, I’d rather have a high potential rookie I think will become as good or better within a year than an aging 2nd tier player locked in at first tier money.
We can absorb any sized S&T, basically. We're not limited to spending the cap space on a UFA. However, we've seen what this management team does with cap space. Who's the Ben Wallace of this FA class? He's OURS!
Likely so, which is sort of where I'm going with my thinking. If it appears unlikely we get one of the actual difference-making UFAs, then I think we're better off doing something unorthodox rather than piling the money onto an older guy who won't put us over the top
I wouldn't want to work for garpaxdorf if I were a UFA. I seriously doubt anyone's coming here unless they have no other option. Unfortunately many teams have enough cap to sign the top UFAs. I wouldn't all be surprised if we hear LeBron talking about coming here (this summer), we end up with nobody of consequence if at all, and management will be throwing around words like "flexibility."
The Bulls have Rose to dangle to the FAs, so that should help them. As for the Jazz re-signing Boozer, I doubt it. They seem pretty set on Millsap.
I'm not holding my breath for Lebron or Bosh. I'd personally love to move Noah to PF so he can create mismatches with his length (and assuming he works on getting a consistent 10-15 ft. jumper). With that said, I'd love to find a way to get our hands on the #2 pick. A Derrick Rose/ Evan Turner/ Joakim Noah core + a solid supporting cast can probably contend for many years in the East. We'd obviously have to take on a contract or two to even have a shot at that #2 pick, but whatever the case, wed still have room for a player who can be the #3- #4 option. I'm cool with either of those scenarios, but dear god, please no JJ/DWade.
