Doug Thonus: I've been told by someone I trust that the Bulls have 11.8 million left in cap room if J.J. Redick is matched which is widely expected. This was told to me as fact and not a guess. Trying to fill in the pieces of how we got there, the most logical solution is that Boozer and Korver both signed flat deals and Asik signed a max ascending 3 year 4 million dollar deal (3y/4m was reported by KC Johnson I've been told though I didn't see it personally). That gives the Bulls salaries looking something like this: Player Salary Carlos Boozer $15,200,000 Luol Deng $11,345,000 Derrick Rose $5,546,160 Kyle Korver $5,000,000 Joakim Noah $3,128,536 James Johnson $1,713,600 Taj Gibson $1,117,680 Omer Asik $1,234,568 Vet Min $473,604 Vet Min $473,604 Vet Min $473,604 Vet Min $473,604 Total: $46,179,960 Salary Cap: $58,044,000 Cap Remaining $11,864,040 http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/chi...al/2010/07/updated-bulls-salary-cap.html#more
Salaries are up to date here: http://sportstwo.com/s2/NBASalaries.php#jump_CHI I'm surprised they didn't backload Boozer and Korver, but given that they don't seem to want to add a significant player, it's a sensible move to lessen their potential tax impact down the road. They still have enough room to make a major addition if they want. They also have room to make a minor addition (such as taking on a salary) and using it to accrue draft picks. If they're not going to go for it, that would be a very good strategy to employ.
It's the final answer to the question: Will Reinsdorf pay the luxury tax to build a contending team? No. He'll pay it if he already has a champion but that really doesn't help us much, does it.
Who is he supposed to spend it on? Should he have given reduce $12 million offer? There was nobody worth the money available...
Spend it on the BEST FUCKING PLAYER AVAILABLE. Oops, that ship has sailed. May as well improve the bottom line and hope to catch lightning in a bottle should we make the playoffs.
Why on earth would the Bulls facilitate a S&T for Boozer? There was nothing to gain and anything they gave up doesn't help us at all.
