Roy Hibbert: 4 years, $58 million
Nic Batum: 4 years, $45 million
Gerald Wallace: 4 years, $40 million
Omer Asik: 3 years, $25 million
Landry Fields: 3 years, $19 million
Brandon Roy: 2 years, $10.4 million
A small sampling of contracts agreed to during the first five days of the offseason. Mat was under the impression that, with the new CBA in place, NBA owners were going to control themselves, maybe even seize an opportunity to tell free agents "I'm sorry, but salaries have to come down with all the new rules," even if it wasn't necessarily true for their team.
Expecting responsibility from NBA owners was foolish on Mat's part, obviously, and the contracts signed so far have extinguished any notion that non-superstars would have to expect less money in The New NBA. The free agency period has made it so a 4 year, $30 million deal for Jeremy Lin, he of the 25-or-so good games, seems startlingly reasonable.
What this means for the Bulls is that they're not going to be able to make waves with the $3 million taxpayer mid-level exception. The only player of note who has signed in their price range is Jason Kidd, who signed a three year deal worth $9 million that will make him a Knick through his 58th birthday.
If they're lucky, Kirk Hinrich (who Mat thought might be a contender to take a discount at the veteran's minimum) might take a discount to sign at the full mini-MLE. Maybe Ramon Sessions will be left with nowhere else to sign when the dust of free agency settles. Still, those seem like awfully big maybes.
What this should mean for the Bulls is that C.J. Watson is brought back, because they're almost certainly not going to find a better point guard for less than Watson's $3.2 million salary. Mat thinks Paxson and Foreman should take a hard look at guaranteeing Ronnie Brewer's contract, too, because bench help is going to be difficult to sign.
It also might mean management is right to avoid the luxury tax unless you know you're a contender. With just $3 million to wield in this sort of an environment, making significant moves to upgrade your team without giving up an important piece becomes nearly impossible. The Lakers were able to add Steve Nash, but that's because Nash turned down $11 million more from Toronto and LA happened to have a trade exception from the Lamar Odom deal.
There's a difference between cheapness and maintaining flexibility. If the Bulls let go of Korver, Watson and Brewer with few means to replace them, if they release those guys and add a Kirk Hinrich and call it an offseason? That is cheapness, because they're doing nothing but making the team worse for next season.
If, going forward, they try to avoid the tax for non-significant upgrades so that, when the time comes, they can add a Jason Terry instead of a signing a decaying Jason Kidd to a long-term deal? That might be the price of business in The New NBA.
That, and $40 million over 4 years for Jeff Green. (You're killing Mat, NBA owners.)
Showing posts with label Jason Kidd. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jason Kidd. Show all posts
Friday, July 6, 2012
Saturday, June 30, 2012
A (Realistic) Free Agency Preview - Part Two
On the eve of free agency, the Bulls' possibilities are almost as limitless as Bradley Cooper in that one movie. Unfortunately, their checkbook isn't quite that expansive. With the Bulls currently sitting more than $4 million above last year's luxury-tax threshold of around $70 million, it seems that they'll end up with only the smaller $3 million taxpayer mid-level exception and the veteran minimum to offer free agents.
Mat thinks the Bulls will be able to add one piece of note and perhaps take a gamble on a potential high-reward wing player willing to take a lower salary figure: a Brandon Roy, a Michael Redd, a Tracy McGrady. It's hard to pin down which of the many reclamation products the Bulls favor, but it's easier to predict the other player they'll add.
In his post-draft press conference, Gar Foreman mentioned the need to find a point guard in free agency. This did more than depress C.J. Watson; it confirmed the widespread belief that the Bulls would target a veteran to fill the void left by Derrick Rose while he's recovering from injury.
Considering the fact that Derrick Rose will eventually come back, the drafting of Marquis Teague, the potential void in the two-guard rotation left by the departure of Ronnie Brewer and the inevitable injuries of Rip Hamilton, Mat sees the Bulls going for a guy who can play the 1 and the 2.
Steve Nash is the pipe dream, but odds of him taking a steep discount to play with the Bulls are practically zero. Jason Kidd, who Mat likes, might also see himself priced out of the Bulls' range. He's reportedly only interested in signing as Deron Williams's back-up, which rules him out. High-profile veterans like Andre Miller and Chauncey Billups will probably be too expensive, too.
KC Johnson has reported that the Bulls have looked into Kirk Hinrich and Delonte West, which seems like the team's most realistic options. Hinrich has a history with the team, can shoot the three and seems a very Thibodeau-ian player, but he's been downright lousy the past few years. West is a talented headcase who also has a history with Thibodeau. Either fits the "veteran combo guard" mold, and they seem like the two most likely additions for the team. Other realistic possibilities, like Randy Foye or Jonny Flynn, don't exactly whet the appetite.
Ultimately, Mat thinks Hinrich will be the man. He's a higher-character guy, he's a known quantity for the Bulls, he's an outstanding defender, and he'll come cheaper. West could, very easily, command more than $3 million. Hinrich could potentially sign for as cheap as a two-year deal at the $1.3 million veteran minimum salary, freeing up money for the Bulls to target a Brandon Roy.
So, to recap: Mat sees the Bulls roster panning out like this:
[Rose]/Hinrich/Teague
Hamilton/Hinrich/[Reclamation Project] OR [Minimum Salary Player]
Deng/Korver/Butler
Boozer/Gibson
Noah/Asik
Mat thinks the Bulls will be able to add one piece of note and perhaps take a gamble on a potential high-reward wing player willing to take a lower salary figure: a Brandon Roy, a Michael Redd, a Tracy McGrady. It's hard to pin down which of the many reclamation products the Bulls favor, but it's easier to predict the other player they'll add.
In his post-draft press conference, Gar Foreman mentioned the need to find a point guard in free agency. This did more than depress C.J. Watson; it confirmed the widespread belief that the Bulls would target a veteran to fill the void left by Derrick Rose while he's recovering from injury.
Considering the fact that Derrick Rose will eventually come back, the drafting of Marquis Teague, the potential void in the two-guard rotation left by the departure of Ronnie Brewer and the inevitable injuries of Rip Hamilton, Mat sees the Bulls going for a guy who can play the 1 and the 2.
Steve Nash is the pipe dream, but odds of him taking a steep discount to play with the Bulls are practically zero. Jason Kidd, who Mat likes, might also see himself priced out of the Bulls' range. He's reportedly only interested in signing as Deron Williams's back-up, which rules him out. High-profile veterans like Andre Miller and Chauncey Billups will probably be too expensive, too.
KC Johnson has reported that the Bulls have looked into Kirk Hinrich and Delonte West, which seems like the team's most realistic options. Hinrich has a history with the team, can shoot the three and seems a very Thibodeau-ian player, but he's been downright lousy the past few years. West is a talented headcase who also has a history with Thibodeau. Either fits the "veteran combo guard" mold, and they seem like the two most likely additions for the team. Other realistic possibilities, like Randy Foye or Jonny Flynn, don't exactly whet the appetite.
Ultimately, Mat thinks Hinrich will be the man. He's a higher-character guy, he's a known quantity for the Bulls, he's an outstanding defender, and he'll come cheaper. West could, very easily, command more than $3 million. Hinrich could potentially sign for as cheap as a two-year deal at the $1.3 million veteran minimum salary, freeing up money for the Bulls to target a Brandon Roy.
So, to recap: Mat sees the Bulls roster panning out like this:
[Rose]/Hinrich/Teague
Hamilton/Hinrich/[Reclamation Project] OR [Minimum Salary Player]
Deng/Korver/Butler
Boozer/Gibson
Noah/Asik
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
The Brandon Roy Scratch and Win Lotto Ticket
The Bulls are reportedly interested in the services, and knees, of once "retired" Brandon Roy.
Brandon Roy used to be a superstar. Then his knees started to deteriorate due to a rare condition in which he lacks cartilage between some of his bones.
Mat's not so sure that compiling knee injuries is the ticket to the top, but that being said, if Brandon Roy is the right price, he's certainly worth a flier.
Roy is a guy who used to give you 20 points a game. Odds are he won't be able to return to that form, but if the knees can hold up, he's certainly an answer to the "who else can create a shot" syndrome the Bulls have been facing.
Mat usually prefers known commodities. Say a Steve Nash, Jason Kidd, or Tyreke Evans, as opposed to draft picks or injury rehab projects, but this one strikes him differently.
Brandon Roy retired. Done with basketball forever. Now he suddenly wants back in? Sounds like a guy who not only has something to prove, but who might not be opposed to proving it for a fraction of the cost he used to make.
Mat salivates over the idea of a healthy Rose, Deng, and Roy on the court at the same time. He knows it's a pipe dream here on the 26th of June, but what else is the offseason for?
Thursday, June 21, 2012
How About Jason Kidd?
After coming up with a few options of his own regarding the new Bulls point guard, Mat ran across another idea that he really likes.
Bryan Crawford of NBC Chicago recently penned the possibility of Jason Kidd joining the Bulls roster this offseason.
Mat believes the addition of a veteran point guard is not only smart for coverage purposes, but also for the mentoring role Kidd could bring to Rose and his teammates alike.
Mat, whilst discussing with his other mouse friends the future of the Bulls backup point guard position, came to the conclusion that where Kidd's influence would really shine is actually after the return of Rose from his knee injury. The thought of Kidd coming off the bench for Rose and changing the pace of the game would provide the Bulls a much needed new dimension to their overall basketball repertoire.
Mat also salivates at the thought of Coach Thibs drawing up late game sets in which both Kidd and Rose are on the floor together. Adding something like that late in the game would be a game-changer.
The next question that arises is one to do with the Bulls dwindling availability with salary cap space. Could they even pull off a Kidd signing? Mat's answer to that is simple; yes. Kidd has openly stated he is willing to fill in for Rose during the injury time, and as Mat mentioned when talking about Dragic, if Kidd wants another ring there is no better place to look than Chicago.
Mat expects the Bulls to make a valiant effort for the services of Kidd. Overall, his control of a basketball game will play off of the high tempo and electrifying abilities of Rose. Mat knows for certain this type of move will cause plenty of regular season match up constraints for opponents of the Red and Black, and those should continue well into the 2013 postseason.
Bryan Crawford of NBC Chicago recently penned the possibility of Jason Kidd joining the Bulls roster this offseason.
Mat believes the addition of a veteran point guard is not only smart for coverage purposes, but also for the mentoring role Kidd could bring to Rose and his teammates alike.
Mat, whilst discussing with his other mouse friends the future of the Bulls backup point guard position, came to the conclusion that where Kidd's influence would really shine is actually after the return of Rose from his knee injury. The thought of Kidd coming off the bench for Rose and changing the pace of the game would provide the Bulls a much needed new dimension to their overall basketball repertoire.
Mat also salivates at the thought of Coach Thibs drawing up late game sets in which both Kidd and Rose are on the floor together. Adding something like that late in the game would be a game-changer.
The next question that arises is one to do with the Bulls dwindling availability with salary cap space. Could they even pull off a Kidd signing? Mat's answer to that is simple; yes. Kidd has openly stated he is willing to fill in for Rose during the injury time, and as Mat mentioned when talking about Dragic, if Kidd wants another ring there is no better place to look than Chicago.
Mat expects the Bulls to make a valiant effort for the services of Kidd. Overall, his control of a basketball game will play off of the high tempo and electrifying abilities of Rose. Mat knows for certain this type of move will cause plenty of regular season match up constraints for opponents of the Red and Black, and those should continue well into the 2013 postseason.
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