Posted by RonRon:
briggs is right, the bulls can just match the offer and trade him a couple months later for ATLEAST a first round pick and expiring contract from a weak team. Its a no brainer for bulls to match a 5-6mill per year. we have no shot at crawford unless we trade for him. Remember the whole thing when golden state wouldnt let danny fortsan walk and they matched the offer and made him sit on the bench for 2 years. And about odom, he totally got fed up with the organization and requested them not to match. And that was for a whole lot more than the mid exception
GMs don't like to commit themselves to big, long-term contracts on players they don't want. That's why the Clips didn't match Odom's offer (even though they bluffed and said they would)
Also, if the Bulls dotch the MLE offer, you're right they can trade him in December, but it would mean taking on a player making around $5.5 mil, which they might prefer not to do.
[Edited by - Bonn1997 on 06/26/2004 18:36:05]