Chisoxfn

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jul 2, 2014 -> 09:50 AM) If Boozer's expiring contract is so valuable, why don't the Bulls just trade him somewhere and get something back the Knicks would like in a sign and trade? I don't buy it. Valuable is relative. It is not worth the $15M in cash for most organizations. You have to put in other sweetners (e.g., trade a Niko, Snell and picks and need Melo to really force the envelope) but come the trade deadline, the expiring is an asset for teams looking to clear cap space (e.g., teams looking to dump long term contracts (fairly valued contracts) for short term expiration).

QUOTE (bmags @ Jul 2, 2014 -> 09:43 AM) Harden - 14 mill Anthony - 20 mill? Howard - 21 million That is 55 million of 57 salary cap 2.2 to RFA parsons (for now, bird rights can allow them to go over cap) 57.2 million 9x500k = 4.5 million 61.7 million What am I missing here? Does it work different for RFA's? You normally have to renounce your bird rights if you are going to sign FA's.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jul 2, 2014 -> 09:32 AM) Whoa whoa whoa whoa... BOOZER is a useful chip in a Love deal? Do they know Kahn left? Useful is relative. I think they are looking at a mid-season Love deal and the fact that Boozer's contract would be very beneficial in allowing that to happen (and at that point, not all that expensive for a team like the Wolves, presuming they get other value).

QUOTE (bmags @ Jul 2, 2014 -> 09:30 AM) I don't see how Lowry could be possible now that he is getting 5 years at around 10 or 12 from TOR. I get that talent wise they are a great fit, and that Morey can somehow fit 3 max deals on his team where the Bulls can barely fit one, but that roster can score 130 and give up 200 points a game. Also, if someone signs Parsons to a deal NOW, it severely limits them. Presti, please please please do not accept Lin for no reason. The penalty for the salary floor is essentially nothing. Note: I have zero idea how that could possibly work given the cap and yes they will have defensive limitations but that is a serious roster.

WSJ reported that some in Knicks organization believe Boozer makes a lot of sense and can be a useful chip in a Love deal. NYDailyNews had a report that the Bulls pitch included both Taj & Jimmy Butler as being key points to the Bulls roster being title ready. This would be significant as the report went on to indicate that Melo is on board and understands the Bulls should retain those players and has learned from the Denver trade to Knicks (which ultimately led to Knicks being gutted). Seems like there is at least some real smoke about him seriously considering taking less money. That would be awesome. I'd love to keep Jimmy B and Taj and get Melo. Note: Obviously, if Melo says he wants to come here, I would ship Taj/Jimmy B for Melo if need be, but am hopeful they can work things out to really have this roster set.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jul 2, 2014 -> 09:21 AM) Wow, 5 places? Amazing. I swear to God PLEASE let Houston's pitch be convincing Melo it's a real city. PLEASE GOD. Rumor has it their pitch is a 5 player super team, which will include Howard, Melo, Harden, Parsons, and another FA (most believe this to be Lowry). Harden is in on the presentation and probably means they are not seriously going after LBJ (or dangling Harden in a S&T). Houston has a much easier opportunity at giving Howard big money as they won't have the same difficulties Chicago has in terms of getting a S&T with Knicks (as Houston can structure its trade without putting in near the same types of guaranteed money). Lin is supposedly on his way to Philly if Melo gives a verbal commitment.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jul 2, 2014 -> 08:55 AM) Dwight Howard was from the south. He also didn't like LA who has better city life/weather than Houston. LA is a dump, imo. NYC and Chicago blow it out of the water.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jul 2, 2014 -> 08:36 AM) It's a day later, still really bummed. It stinks but we lost to the superior team. Can't get too mad about that. Did we have some opportunities to pull off a fluke win, sure, but did we have any business winning that game (given how it was played)...nope.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 1, 2014 -> 06:14 PM) Why do Hobby Lobby's employees have to give up their freedom of religion due to the beliefs of their management? Where is your respect for the actual people who work there? Why are their religious beliefs unimportant to you? No one is saying they do. They can go pay for them themselves or use planned parenthood or sign up for their own health care plan. No one is forcing you to use the Companies plan, which comes at a COST to the Company. They could just pull it and pay whatever fees and let employees use Obamacare.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jul 1, 2014 -> 10:37 PM) What are you talking about? The people can still get their abortions. Unfortunately for them this particular employer doesn't want to pay for the four contraceptives. How about Hobby Lobby just stops providing insurance and lets everyone pay on Obama par (and pay whatever taxes they need to pay towards that cause). Would that be a better result for the employees?

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 1, 2014 -> 06:21 PM) Someone also needs to point this out since no one seems to care about this either. So please, tell me again why Hobby Lobby should be able to inflict additional pain upon their workforce. That is complete bulls*** but we can go with it. Probably a lot of bias in the answers. They might stay on it for some of those reasons when they are married but they didn't go onto it for those reasons. Total load of s***. Common sense tells you that.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jul 2, 2014 -> 08:16 AM) Mark Deeks ‏@MarkDeeksNBA 11h @McGrawDHBulls I spoke to an NBA executive the other day who said they would happily max Butler. Double checked and he wasn't joking. I'm one of Butler's biggest fans but that would be a disaster for whichever team (unless his max is a lot less then I'm thinking). I do think Butler's production and progress last year was very negatively impacted by the slew of injuries he faced. I think he takes some major steps forward and I personally think he's an outstanding fit / chip on this squad but one that likely goes in a S&T for Melo (as the incentive for Knicks to do it).

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jul 2, 2014 -> 08:13 AM) The sign and trade has to help the Knicks though. I just don't think the Bulls can make it attractive enough for them to take Boozer. Maybe if the take back JR Smith and some other garbage to free up space, it makes it closer, but doesn't really help free up money for Melo. It saves a rival money, it gives the guy that blew them off more money, and if they can't use Boozer's contract to trade for a really good piece or pieces, with the repeat tax offender penalty, his contract alone could cost them close to $40 million. They'd have to take Smith and others back and if they do that, I believe the Knicks can take on Boozer and stay under the luxury tax threshold, although I might be mistaken on that. The key would be the Knicks would have to be interested in Snell (and most likely Butler is the real chip that is dealt for this to happen).

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Jul 2, 2014 -> 08:10 AM) They're in the West though. Would he really want to go through that gauntlet every year to get to the Finals? I didn't say it was perfect. He could get money and still be on a very good team though.

Pippen was apparently at the dinner with Melo & Bulls last night. Interesting. You wonder if Pippen's wife was taking out La La?

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jul 2, 2014 -> 07:55 AM) Im just gonna not worry about cap/trade/exception crap. If Melo wants to be a bull, he will be. It will be figured out That is the reality in this. If he wants to, one way shape or form they will figure it out, imo. That said, I still think Houston, while offering a 2nd rate city, provides Melo with more money (if they trade lin, they are starting at 17M / year) and that actually works out to a larger # when you adjust for state income tax. It is hard to be the favorite when you are offering the least amount of money which is why this all comes down to Melo telling Knicks I'll take less and then put a lot of pressure on the sign and trade so they can get something.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Jul 2, 2014 -> 07:52 AM) If the trade is a 3 way for Melo, it helps a lot. Also just went to the realgm trade machine.... So if there is a sign and trade, and those guys have to be included, we could be waiting at least another 8 days... That is the earliest Melo can sign a contract, I believe.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jul 2, 2014 -> 07:44 AM) This would only give us a large trade exception which is by and large unhelpful because it could only be used in Melo's deal if Melo took that exact price. Not if you make it a 3 team S&T.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 2, 2014 -> 07:42 AM) Do they have a large salary they can give back? It actually doesn't help the Bulls much aside from saving Reinsdorf money if the Bulls trade Boozer to a team that just absorbs his contract. Don't believe they have to since the Lakers are under the cap.

QUOTE (MexSoxFan#1 @ Jul 1, 2014 -> 07:20 PM) I was gonna talk smack to the posters here who were whooping it up after Mexico got eliminated but decided to take the high road. Decided it was enough just knowing you guys got thoroughly outclassed. I hate the way the Mexico team plays and the way their fans treat opposing teams. Complete and utter lack of class and that is why I will always root massively against them. Watching the Belgium game, they played with total class. I tip my cap to them and the best team won and I have zero problem if the Belgians win the whole cup.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 2, 2014 -> 07:31 AM) If the Knicks won't take Boozer then that means the Bulls would have to bring in another team who was wiling to do so, making things extraordinarily messy. Lakers might be that team.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Jul 2, 2014 -> 07:07 AM) Boozer/Butler/Dunleavy/Smith and the non gaurenteed contracts of James/Brewer/Amundson is a touch over 27M. Swapping out Butler for Snell would add up to 26.6. How close does it have to be? Melo/JR/Prig is 27.6. Those first 4 don't have a contract that last past this coming up season so if they're looking to make a push in FA next year the deal works for them. They HAVE to take Boozer...Unless they can make a 3 way deal. That would leave the Bulls with Rose/Prigioni Smith/Snell or more preferably Butler/Smith Melo/DMD Taj/Mirotic Noah/Vet min Might be worth noting that Prig and Mirotic were teammates so that could help his transition. That trade works.

I agree with this.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jul 1, 2014 -> 05:23 PM) Thibs is close with Melo's agent. Agreed (they share the same agents); Still, it seems that with the draft selections and everything, Thibbs / Front office have been on the same page and working together. I have long thought the "tension" was overblown. Did it exist, sure, however, with time, things blow over, and in hindsight, the plan is looking pretty good and no matter what this franchise will be improved this year, imo. Thibbs picking up Melo and chauffering him around was a money move, imo. Also great the KC is reporting Taj was included because Melo has already indicated he wants Taj around and part of the squad. Presume Melo / Taj know each other from the time Taj spent practicing with Team USA.

Again, does that sound like something an organization with this major impass between front office and coach? Maybe that was part of the reason they did it (to alleviate that perception), either way, it sure seems to me that everyone is on the same page and all this media talk about Thibbs and FO is completely overblown.