newyorknewyork wrote:It would be best case in reality. We need to use our cap space to add multiple draft picks. Then hit FA hard in 2016 when we have more cap space and a higher salary cap. That would be the winning formula.

Yup, but we have to do it quickly- next season will be the last time you can take on salary for picks (at least for a while) as once the cap goes up every team will have space (or at least a lot more). In the offseason I would look in to taking on David Lee's salary for a pick or two- warriors need some money to pay Green.

Nalod wrote:Things happen..........
Its not on us to have the ideas, the circumstances for each of the above can change.

Memphis is having a good year but what is the outlook for the next few years?
The idea is to not see things as they are but what they can be.

Kevin Love? Dude is unrestricted.

Its december, no need to get all "Knicks suck and the future is bleek cuz there are no starpuchs to bank on!!!"

Detroit can max out Monroe, but at his age he can get his years thru an opt out and be unrestricted.
Usually I'd be despondent by now but Phil is a deep thinking and understands a lot of things. Im not about to call his tenure a failure just 9 months into this.

I'm not all doom and gloom, I just think we can't rebuild completely (or even enough to please Melo) this offseason- I have the patience to do it gradually, but it does mean slightly altering our strategy.

nixluva wrote:Just as a frame of reference here are just some of the Free Agents for 2015. I focused on the young players since I think that it's where we can get the best value for the future of the franchise. Just cuz we have Melo doesn't mean we have to go after guys who are his age. I think Phil should and will look for young vets who are coming into their best years but still are at a more affordable level due to a lower Max for the years they've been in the league.

PLAYER	                POS	STATUS	FROM	TO	AGE	EXP	2014 CAP HIT
Glen Robinson III	SG	RFA	MIN	TBD	20		$507,336
K.J. McDaniels	        SF	RFA	PHI	TBD	21		$507,336
Enes Kanter	        C	RFA	UTH	TBD	22	3	$5,694,674
Tobias Harris	        SF	RFA	ORL	TBD	22	3	$2,380,594
Bismack Biyombo	        C	RFA	CHA	TBD	22	3	$3,873,898
Kawhi Leonard	        SF	RFA	SAS	TBD	23	3	$2,894,059
Brandon Knight	        PG	RFA	MIL	TBD	23	3	$3,553,917
Cory Joseph	        PG	RFA	SAS	TBD	23	3	$2,023,261
John Jenkins	        SG	UFA	ATL	TBD	23	2	$1,312,920
Xavier Henry	        SG	UFA	LAL	TBD	23	4	$1,082,000
Andre Dawkins	        SG	RFA	MIA	TBD	23		$507,336
Jared Cunningham	SG	UFA	LAC	TBD	23	2	$915,243
Thomas Robinson	        PF	UFA	POR	TBD	23	2	$3,678,360
Ian Clark	        SG	RFA	UTH	TBD	23	1	$816,482
Shayne Whittington	C	RFA	IND	TBD	23		$507,336
Derrick Williams	PF	RFA	SAC	TBD	23	3	$6,331,404
Tristan Thompson	PF	RFA	CLE	TBD	23	3	$5,138,430
Greg Smith	        C	UFA	DAL	TBD	23	3	$948,163
Glen Rice Jr.	        SF	RFA	WAS	TBD	23	1	$816,482
Darius Morris	        PG	RFA	BKN	TBD	23	2	$605,157
Khris Middleton	        SF	RFA	MIL	TBD	23	2	$915,243
Kendall Marshall	PG	UFA	MIL	TBD	23	2	$915,243
Will Barton	        SG	RFA	POR	TBD	23	2	$915,243
Reggie Jackson	        PG	RFA	OKC	TBD	24	3	$2,204,370
Justin Hamilton	        C	RFA	MIA	TBD	24	1	$816,482
Draymond Green	        SF	RFA	GSW	TBD	24	2	$915,243
Robert Covington	SF	RFA	PHI	TBD	24	1	$1,000,000
Matt Dellavedova	PG	RFA	CLE	TBD	24	1	$816,482
Jae Crowder	        SF	RFA	BOS	TBD	24	2	$915,243
Jeff Withey	        C	RFA	NOP	TBD	24	1	$816,482
Travis Wear	        PF	RFA	NYK	TBD	24		$507,336
Henry Sims	        C	RFA	PHI	TBD	24	2	$915,243
Iman Shumpert	        SF	RFA	NYK	TBD	24	3	$2,616,975
Austin Rivers	        SG	UFA	NOP	TBD	24	2	$2,439,840
Kyle O'Quinn	        PF	RFA	ORL	TBD	24	2	$915,243
Greg Monroe	        C	UFA	DET	TBD	24	4	$5,479,933
Quincy Acy	        SF	RFA	NYK	TBD	24	2	$915,243
Kosta Koufos	        C	RFA	MEM	TBD	25	6	$3,000,000
Robbie Hummel	        SF	UFA	MIN	TBD	25	1	$880,000
Justin Holiday	        SF	RFA	GSW	TBD	25	1	$816,482
Hassan Whiteside	C	RFA	MIA	TBD	25	2	$769,881
Jeff Taylor	        SG	RFA	CHA	TBD	25	2	$915,243
Nick Calathes	        SG	RFA	MEM	TBD	25	1	$816,482
Kevin Seraphin	        PF	UFA	WAS	TBD	25	4	$3,898,691
Jimmy Butler	        SF	RFA	CHI	TBD	25	3	$2,008,748
Luke Babbitt	        SF	UFA	NOP	TBD	25	4	$981,084
LaVoy Allen	        PF	UFA	IND	TBD	25	3	$915,243
Robin Lopez	        C	UFA	POR	TBD	26	6	$6,124,729
Jeremy Lin	        PG	UFA	LAL	TBD	26	4	$8,374,646
DeAndre Jordan	        C	UFA	LAC	TBD	26	6	$11,440,123
Landry Fields	        SF	UFA	TOR	TBD	26	4	$6,250,000
Austin Daye	        PF	UFA	SAS	TBD	26	5	$1,063,384
Victor Claver	        SF	RFA	POR	TBD	26	2	$1,370,000
Norris Cole	        PG	RFA	MIA	TBD	26	3	$2,038,206
Omri Casspi	        SF	UFA	SAC	TBD	26	5	$915,243
Lance Thomas	        SF	UFA	OKC	TBD	26	3	$915,243
Kyle Singler	        SG	UFA	DET	TBD	26	2	$1,090,000
Donald Sloan	        SG	UFA	IND	TBD	26	3	$948,163
Alexey Shved	        PG	RFA	HOU	TBD	26	2	$3,282,056
Darrell Arthur	        PF	UFA	DEN	TBD	26	6	$3,457,149
Alexis Ajinca	        C	UFA	NOP	TBD	26	4	$981,084
Danny Green	        SG	UFA	SAS	TBD	27	5	$4,025,000
Wesley Johnson	        SF	UFA	LAL	TBD	27	4	$915,243
Amir Johnson	        PF	UFA	TOR	TBD	27	9	$7,000,000
Jonas Jerebko	        PF	UFA	DET	TBD	27	4	$4,500,000
Alonzo Gee	        SF	UFA	DEN	TBD	27	5	$915,243
Joel Freeland	        PF	RFA	POR	TBD	27	2	$3,013,512
Jeremy Evans	        SF	UFA	UTH	TBD	27	4	$1,794,871
Wayne Ellington	        SG	UFA	LAL	TBD	27	5	$915,243

KJ McDaniels is a RFA? Id make an offer on him. He has nice 2 way potential. Philly may not match.

Knixkik wrote:Why is the free agent pool dwindling? Who has resigned or signed an extention recently? Seems to me everyone who was expected to be a free agent still will be, rondo included.

BRIGGS wrote:The Bulls are cheap--they are already at 61mm on 8 contracts. Offering Jimmy Butler a frontloaded maximum contract --we'll see if they match. But thats the guy Id target--and whoever says its too much--thats free agency. We need it to put a hurting on Chicago to match.

The Bulls gave Gasol $21 Mirotic $15mil Kirk $5mil, McBuckets $5mil

All in one offseason and was willing to give Melo near $75mil

They even offered Deng 3yrs $30mi before they traded him

Which was a smart and fair price

Signed Rose, Noah, Gibson all young players coming off

Their rookie deals, they aren't losing Butler

We have a better shot landing the #1 pick 2015

Then again in 2017 than signing Butler

And to be honest we'd be doing them somewhat a favor

Offering a 4yr deal to him so they can match eliminating the 5th yr

Not happening, the market teams to test are

Bucks with Knight and OKC with Jackson because there is recent history

Of them losing their players in free agency not the Bulls

CrushAlot wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:The Bulls are cheap--they are already at 61mm on 8 contracts. Offering Jimmy Butler a frontloaded maximum contract --we'll see if they match. But thats the guy Id target--and whoever says its too much--thats free agency. We need it to put a hurting on Chicago to match.

This. If Butler is the guy the Knicks target they need to make an offer that at least causes the Bulls to consider letting him go.

Bulls easily match a 4yr offer to Butler

Butler is entitled to 25% of Cap

$66mil Salary Cap multiplier by .250 = 1st yr $16.5mil

Raises on each yr 4%, $16.5mil multiplier by .045 = $742,500/yr

1yr = $16.5mil
2yr = $17.242mil
3yr = $17.985mil
4yr = $18.727mil

________________

Total $70,455,000

Now consider we only have about $24mil to spend

Factoring all cap holds and empty roster slots

The Bulls would make us wait the 3-5days to match tying up our cap

And match the contract because it takes the 5th yr away from them

It's not wise to go after Butler pretty pointless really

Nor do I see it getting to the point Butler has to go find

A contract to have matched Lin style, Butler and his agent know

They have the 5th yr as an Ace in Hole, which they'll Player Opt more than likely