Where we stand against the luxury tax

by Jamaicanpi on Apr 11, 2009 9:26 AM CDT

I figured that this stuff is going to start coming up pretty soon, so having some links and numbers to reference might be nice.

The luxury tax is supposedly going to drop to $68 million this upcoming summer. We are currently on the books to pay 10 players $64 million. We have 2 first round draft picks in this draft that will earn (+25% bonus) (16th pick) $1.67 million and (26th pick) $1.08 million. That gives the team 12 players and $1.25 million dollars under the tax, enough to sign a couple of minimum salary players, but that's about it.

Jerome James is being paid $6.6 million, but 80% of that ($5.28 million) is covered by insurance.

We will have our mid-level exception, which will probably be worth (my conservative estimate) about $5.7 million and our bi-annual exception at $1.99 million.

These are the 2009 free agents. Acquirable pieces include RFA Josh Childress and UFA Brandon Bass.

I don't have a lot to say other than the fact that it looks like it will be hard to keep Gordon and that I hope our younger pieces will develop (Thomas, Rose, Noah, Deng) more than our older pieces regress (Miller, Salmons, Hinrich).

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Well, there's always the possibility of trading away a big bad contract (DENG) and resigning BG

For those who are into such things…

by BAB-Bass on Apr 11, 2009 9:51 AM CDT reply actions

Does Deng Have Any Trade Value At All?...

by Ceasaleo on Apr 14, 2009 8:18 AM CDT up reply actions

I can't believe how bad and unfair it would be

to keep Deng and let Ben Gordon walk. I refuse to believe that Pax will let that happen.

by Dils on Apr 11, 2009 12:01 PM CDT reply actions

Unfortunately, jettisoning Deng is not a possibility at this point.

And it’s unlikely that the Bulls pay Gordon what he wants while keeping Deng.

So the only way we keep Gordon is to pay him less than he wants, perhaps do a shorter contract as a favor to him, showing him good faith so that he can test the waters again after a few years? As if this hasn’t gone on long enough…

"It’d be ridiculous to hate someone for simply what they say in a sports blog. But I greatly dislike every syllable of your angst-filled, smarmy, nondescript, half-assed, elitist-garbage responses." –Rogerspark Kris

by bullhockey on Apr 12, 2009 11:56 PM CDT up reply actions

I still don't think Ben Gordon will be happier if he isn't getting paid the type of money he deserves

…which he probably won’t be getting from us or any team in this league this off-season

by LoveForTheGame on Apr 13, 2009 12:04 AM CDT up reply actions

*happy

by LoveForTheGame on Apr 13, 2009 12:05 AM CDT up reply actions

What evidence do we have that BG enjoys being a Bull?

I would think he walks for similar offers from other teams.

"Playoffs? Are we talking about playoffs? Really, I mean... Playoffs?"

by Khalid El-Amin on Apr 14, 2009 11:06 AM CDT up reply actions

what evidence is there that he doesn't like being a Bull?

he’s been nothing but professional this entire season, not to mention in seasons’ past.

http://awsomepeoplesearch.com/

by NormVanBeer on Apr 14, 2009 11:10 AM CDT up reply actions

This is definitely on my mind. Excellent timing and post (rec)

I am guessing and definitely could be wrong, but I do not see Gordon getting more than the mid-level exception at 5.7 mil. Does anyone know if the Bulls can offer Ben less than his present 6.4 million?

The Bulls could beat other teams length of contract offered. Even paying BG 5.7 mil it appears we have to get rid of a contract to stay under the luxury tax. Tim Thomas + the two first round picks to a team under the cap would allow us to sign BG.

by chgobr on Apr 11, 2009 12:13 PM CDT reply actions

that's a real lot to give give up Tim Thomas's expiring and keep Ben Gordon

by LoveForTheGame on Apr 11, 2009 1:22 PM CDT up reply actions

I think we need to make some bigger moves this offseason besides just resigning players. We need a superstar. We are so close to becoming a huge threat with the addition of Salmons and Miller. Just one more piece. A leader.

by sweetneyisfat on Apr 11, 2009 1:04 PM CDT reply actions

Perhaps getting a new coach goes without saying.

by hlac on Apr 11, 2009 2:01 PM CDT up reply actions

"One more piece" is to Bulls fans what "Wait 'til next season" is to Cubs fans.

We seem to hear it every year.

I for one think that this team or close to it, plus a couple of years development and top shelf coaching, should have the ability to go a couple rounds into the playoffs. That’s if everyone maintains good chemistry and continues to develop.

Unfortunately, Brad’s going to be ancient by then, and who knows if he’s even going to be on the Bulls or in the NBA in a couple of years…

by bullhockey on Apr 12, 2009 11:59 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

well except we've been winning championships and the Cubs haven't

once Miller’s contract comes off the book, welcome Mr. Bosh…

by LoveForTheGame on Apr 13, 2009 12:06 AM CDT up reply actions

Talk about Bosh's offense on display--

did you see tonight’s Raptors-Sixers game? He looked really good. On offense.

I think we’d be lucky to get Bosh, but it does concern me that he’ll be looking for a max contract even though he’s not the type of guy to put a team on his back. Also that, as people say, he doesn’t rebound or defend exceptionally well, and is not physical enough. It seems like what we’ll need to fill those needs is… Brad Miller… ? Hopefully, Noah will have developed into a more physical guy by then…

by bullhockey on Apr 13, 2009 12:15 AM CDT up reply actions

Well Tyrus and Noah both have the potential to be exceptional defenders

Bosh really won’t need to be the type to put the team on his back. As long as he does the scoring down low that’s fine with me. I’m hoping Rose can become a team leader. Then we will have a great supporting cast of Tyrus, Noah, Deng, and possibly Gordon. That’s so dangerous. According to sources Bosh really wants to be a Bull as well. I’m hoping we can get him in a trade this summer involving Deng and are two first round draft choices.

by LoveForTheGame on Apr 13, 2009 12:21 AM CDT up reply actions

Rose and BG

As well as Ben has played this year, I don’t see the Bulls competing for a championship with a Rose and Ben starting backcourt unless they have a stud/low post threat up front. The most likely way to have a chance at a stud in the next two years is to let Ben go.

by El Toro de Goro on Apr 11, 2009 1:51 PM CDT reply actions

Dealing Jerome James is likely our best chance at moving further under the tax

I won’t claim this is an original idea, but something I remember people mentioning in the past before we had a better idea of what the tax numbers would be. If we dumped Jerome James plus our second 1st round pick to a team under the cap, we would be at 11 players and $8.9 million under the tax. It would probably cost ~$1.2 million to sign a pair of min salary players, leaving us ~$7.7 million left to sign BG. That equates to a contract along these lines.
I am at this point undecided on whether I still want BG, but I thought I would go ahead and do the math for those who are sure they want to keep him.

by Jamaicanpi on Apr 11, 2009 2:04 PM CDT reply actions

it's such a tough call whether I want us to resign Gordon or not

If we offered him that contract it would be a terrific deal for us, but I really don’t like the idea of Rose and Gordon in the backcourt. It’s too small and both of them aren’t great at defense. But Gordon is one of the best shooters in the game of basketball today. On the other hand, we got Salmons, who is getting much older, and we might end up losing him if he opts out of his contract. Salmons is a taller version of Gordon, except he’s not as great of a shooter, but is a better defender. If we sign Gordon this summer, then again we would have log-jams at the guard positions with Rose, Hinrich, Salmons, and Gordon vying for big minutes. If we could trade Hinrich for expiring contracts over the summer and there’s room under the cap to sign Gordon, I say do it. I don’t even know if this makes a whole lot of sense, just expressing myself right now.

by LoveForTheGame on Apr 11, 2009 5:06 PM CDT up reply actions

I agree with trading Hinrich for expirings.

We should sign BG. But it’s all on what we can get freed up for him.
It’s not likely that we can get cap space in this economy. We’ve kind of screwed ourselves in a way.

Joakim Noah: Better than you.

by Prevenge on Apr 12, 2009 1:12 AM CDT up reply actions

if pax were smart

he would’ve trade hinrich at the deadline for expirings rather than hold out this summer to do it

by LoveForTheGame on Apr 12, 2009 2:52 AM CDT up reply actions

iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff (long if)

man up!

by exult463 on Apr 12, 2009 7:15 AM CDT up reply actions

Basically.

Joakim Noah: Better than you.

by Prevenge on Apr 12, 2009 3:30 PM CDT up reply actions

Paxson tried to sent Hinrich to the Wolves, but Minny was unreasonable in their demands.

Maybe we can?

by Granny Waiters on Apr 12, 2009 4:46 PM CDT up reply actions

no actually Paxson was being unreasonable

Paxson wanted a first round pick as well, which would have been a high one considering this team is the Timberwolves. Minnesota was willing to give us expiring contracts for a back up point guard. I thought it was a fair trade for us.

by LoveForTheGame on Apr 12, 2009 6:44 PM CDT up reply actions

minnesota has a bunch of 1st rounders from trades

according to nbadraft.net they have 3 more picks they’ve gotten from trades, but i don’t know if any of those have been traded since.

"They should. They better. I'm Vinny Del Negro!"

by Jaina on Apr 12, 2009 7:01 PM CDT up reply actions

well bottom line is

I would have been fine with Pax trading hinrich for expiring contracts because it would have allowed us to sign Ben Gordon this summer. I think a Rose, Gordon, Salmons combo would’ve been perfect. Then in 2010 we would have a lot more cap space to go after Bosh. I hope Pax still tries to trade Hinrich this summer

by LoveForTheGame on Apr 12, 2009 10:55 PM CDT up reply actions

my point is that the pick they would have gotten wouldn't have been that high

so that part doesn’t seem that unreasonable. the bulls were unhappy with the package for whatever reason though.

i read something else that the wolves also wanted sefolosha, and they did get a pick for him, and maybe that’s why they were unhappy with it being purely a salary dump, so they went elsewhere with thabo.

i hope they can dump hinrich this summer to something that will fit him better not only for the team but for him as well, considering i definitely see him as a starting level PG, and having him come off the bench like this is selling him short…

"They should. They better. I'm Vinny Del Negro!"

by Jaina on Apr 12, 2009 11:04 PM CDT up reply actions

they did get a pick for him = the bulls did get a pick for him

"They should. They better. I'm Vinny Del Negro!"

by Jaina on Apr 12, 2009 11:04 PM CDT up reply actions

Stackhouses contract is mostly unguaranteed,

and the Mavs need a PG if they let Kidd walk.

Maybe we can?

by Granny Waiters on Apr 13, 2009 6:25 PM CDT up reply actions

Thing is that Hinrich is worth more than a backup PG - he's a decent starter.

But at that point we had to move him for cap space. We NEED the cap space. It’s basically trading Hinrich for Gordon.

Joakim Noah: Better than you.

by Prevenge on Apr 12, 2009 11:05 PM CDT up reply actions

exactly.

Hinrichs a decent player-he’s better than a backup player in the NBA. It’s just that fact that Gordon is better than Hinrich.

by LoveForTheGame on Apr 12, 2009 11:14 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

This is the best way to sign BG

If I am correct trading Jerome James + 1st round pick to a team under the cap works. The team under the cap gets a 1st round pick for free since James contract would be paid by the insurance company. The only negative is the James contract would count against the team’s cap which should not be an issue for Memphis, OK, etc.

by chgobr on Apr 12, 2009 5:05 PM CDT up reply actions

That's actually a decent idea.

I like it.

Joakim Noah: Better than you.

by Prevenge on Apr 12, 2009 6:00 PM CDT up reply actions

We could do something like:

Jerome James+pick for Malik Rose/Desmond Mason?

Joakim Noah: Better than you.

by Prevenge on Apr 12, 2009 6:12 PM CDT up reply actions

it's been mentioned before

and it’s certainly a great idea to get under the cap

by LoveForTheGame on Apr 12, 2009 6:45 PM CDT up reply actions

That's a lot of cost to a team for a late 1st-rounder.

Even if the Bulls paid the maximum $3 million to the team they’re trading James too (which would have to be added on to the cost of re-sign Gordon), I can’t see too many teams paying $3.6 million (James contract minus $3 million) to get the 26th pick overall. Although, Portland seems to be into the practice.

Viva la nuance! Reading comprehension rules!!!

by tyger1147 on Apr 13, 2009 8:54 AM CDT up reply actions

Never mind. My mistake. What chgbor said.

Insurance only pays 80% I believe. The Bulls could obviously cover the rest. Or tell that team under the cap to buy the pick for $1.32 million.

Viva la nuance! Reading comprehension rules!!!

by tyger1147 on Apr 13, 2009 8:57 AM CDT up reply actions

Golden Opportunity

This summer the Bulls have a golden opportunity to use their economic muscle, use their expiring contracts and draft choices, and sign one or two critical players from less fortunate teams. Can this really be done? Would another team really do this? Ask the Lakers and Memphis.

by hlac on Apr 12, 2009 2:29 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

Would we do it?

I’m thinking no.

Joakim Noah: Better than you.

by Prevenge on Apr 12, 2009 3:31 PM CDT up reply actions

to dream...

::sigh::

USE THE SOFTWARE. Actions-> Rec/Flag. Reply to comments with the reply button. Rec good fanposts/fanshots so the crud gets pushed down.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 13, 2009 9:14 AM CDT up reply actions

Thanks for the good post.

I was wondering about the cap situation, so this is much appreciated.

by T-Boogie on Apr 13, 2009 6:27 PM CDT reply actions

I have this recurring nightmare...

We lose BG next year then realize we made a huge mistake. In 2010 we sign Michael Redd and suck for the next 7 years.

"Playoffs? Are we talking about playoffs? Really, I mean... Playoffs?"

by Khalid El-Amin on Apr 14, 2009 11:08 AM CDT reply actions

2 thoughts/questions...

How is Childress still a RFA? Did the Hawks not want him to leave? I just assumed this year he was a RFA and next year he can come back anywhere?

Also, looking at that free agent list it’s pretty clear that Phoenix is about to take a nose dive to the bottom of the NBA.

"Playoffs? Are we talking about playoffs? Really, I mean... Playoffs?"

by Khalid El-Amin on Apr 14, 2009 11:12 AM CDT reply actions

hawks hold childress' rights

as long as they keep offering the tender to him i think. i don’t know if there’s a limit on the number of years, i thought there was but i can’t remember.

"They should. They better. I'm Vinny Del Negro!"

by Jaina on Apr 14, 2009 11:40 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

3 years

Yet I believe they still have a cap hold like they did this past year (although it didn’t matter because they were over already and not going to sign anyone). They’ll have a lot of money coming off the books this year so they might not tender him. However, w/ the 1st-rounders and having to probably re-sign Zaza, etc. they might not have much to offer anyway.

Um… I think.

Viva la nuance! Reading comprehension rules!!!

by tyger1147 on Apr 14, 2009 5:18 PM CDT up reply actions

Childress is also not exactly setting the Greek league and Euroleague in flames

He might be cheaper than keeping Deng, but hard to say he would be an adequate replacement or much less an upgrade over Deng and Salmons.

Greg Oden = Robert Parish (HOF, 4x NBA champion, 9x NBA All-Star). The only other rookie with more than 500 points, 400 rebounds, and 65 blocks in under 1400 minutes played. Since 1946.

by Norsktroll on Apr 14, 2009 5:28 PM CDT up reply actions