Bulls News: As the Bulls are already in their offseason heres another close look at how the current roster looks Bulls Cap Situation: With the Bulls bowing out of the postseason earlier than expected, we have quite a bit of time to kill before the offseason hits. Carmelo Anthony talk is sure to dominate the conversation, but before we get into anything more specific about those possibilities, wed like to just take a general look at the roster heading into the offseason. Under Contract Derrick Rose 2014-15 salary: $18,862,876 Total salary remaining on contract: three years, $60,279,192 Not much really to say about Rose. He has a bad contract until he proves he can stay healthy and play at a high level. And no, he cant be amnestied. Carlos Boozer 2014-15 salary: $16,800,000 expiring contract Boozer is coming off the worst season of his career and was dreadful against the Wizards. Hes a ripe candidate for amnesty, but the Bulls will likely try and find a taker in a trade first. Could also possibly be used as a major trade piece in a deal for a signed-and-traded Anthony. Joakim Noah 2014-15 salary: $12,200,000 Total salary remaining on contract: two years, $25,600,000 Noah was the Bulls MVP this season and figures to be a part of the core for years to come. There are some concerns about Noah, as hell turn 30 next year, hasnt finished a season healthy in several years and just had arthroscopic surgery to clean up his injured knee. Also, $500,000 will be added to Noahs cap number for next year if he gets voted to the All-NBA First Team. Taj Gibson 2014-15 salary: $8,000,000 Total salary remaining on contract: three years, $25,450,000 Gibson took major strides this year and turned into one of the better two-way power forwards in the NBA. In line to take over the starting job with Boozer on the way out. Could be dealt to clear cap space for Anthony, but doesnt seem like the Bulls are all that interested in taking that route. $250,000 will be added to cap number if voted to the All-Defensive Second Team. Mike Dunleavy 2014-15 salary: $3,326,235 expiring contract Dunleavy was forced into a much larger role than expected thanks to the Rose injury and Luol Deng trade. Still was a very solid piece and should be a valuable veteran shooter off the bench next season if hes not dealt to clear cap space. Jimmy Butler 2014-15 salary: 2,008,748 2015-16 qualifying offer: $3,013,123 Butler battled a turf toe injury and played over 41 minutes per game after the Deng trade. While still a monster on the defensive end, Butler didnt take the desired steps offensively, instead regressing a bit. The injury and minutes load certainly may have played a part in the regression, and perhaps hell be more effective when healthy next year. Eligible to receive a contract extension prior to the season, and maybe his struggles will be a blessing in disguise in terms of how much the Bulls pay him. Tony Snell 2014-15 salary: $1,472,400 Total salary remaining on contract: $1,535,880 team option in 2015-16, $2,368,327 team option in 2016-17, $3,393,813 qualifying offer in 2017-18 Snell was a mixed bag. He showed some flashes when forced to play big minutes, but his playing time tailed off at the end of the year and he was generally inconsistent. Will be around unless hes dealt for cap space or is a throw-in as part of a bigger trade. Greg Smith 2014-15 salary: $948,163 expiring contract Was signed at the end of the season and was given a guaranteed contract for next year. Hes recovering from knee surgery, but if healthy, could battle for the backup center job. Free Agents Kirk Hinrich Unrestricted free agent: $5,276,700 cap hold for 2014-15 Hinrich came on strong at the end of the year after a dreadful start, but his limitations were exposed in the playoffs. The Bulls would like him back (because GRIT!), however, it depends on the price. I think Id be fine with Hinrich back at the minimum in a much smaller role [note: Jay has since been fired from BaB -yfbb], but he may command more. If Bulls want to open up as much cap space as possible, his cap hold will have to be renounced. Nazr Mohammed Unrestricted free agent: $915,243 cap hold for 2014-15 Mohammed cant really play anymore, but apparently hes not ready to hang em up just yet. Mohammed might be a decent fifth or sixth big just for his locker room presence. Could be renounced to expunge cap hold and then re-signed later at the minimum. D.J. Augustin Unrestricted free agent: $915,243 cap hold for 2014-15 Augustin was a godsend this season because of his quick-strike capabilities off the bench, but he floundered against the Wizards athletic wings. Both he and Bulls management have expressed a mutual interest in working a deal out, although the market could change things. Im hoping his poor postseason will drive down his price a bit and keep him more in the Bulls range, because Id like to see him back next year. Jimmer Fredette Unrestricted free agent: $915,243 cap hold for 2014-15 Despite much clamoring from fans, Jimmer barely played after getting picked up late in the season. I would imagine he wants to go somewhere else where hes more likely to play, but perhaps he decides to stick around depending on what happens with Hinrich and/or Augustin. Non-Guaranteed Contracts and other Cap Holds Mike James, Ronnie Brewer, Lou Amundson James ($1,448,490), Brewer ($1,310,286) and Amundson ($1,310,286) were all signed at the end of the season and given non-guaranteed contracts for next year in order to potentially be used as trade chips (i.e., used to create outgoing salary flotsam, and the team that receives them would waive them). If not, could potentially be retained as end of bench guys. Nikola Mirotic Mirotic is no longer bound by the rookie scale and can be signed using cap space or an exception, and there has been much debate about whether it will require more than the MLE to bring him over from Europe. Will likely be the No. 1 priority if a bigger move isnt made. He does have a $1,075,300 cap hold for 2014-15, but that can be cleared to open up more cap space by him agreeing to stay overseas another year. No. 16, No. 19 and No. 49 picks The cap hold for the No. 16 pick is $1,468,900 and the cap hold for the No. 19 pick is $1,266,000. Bulls could use the picks as trade chips in part of a bigger trade or in order to clear cap space. Rip Hamilton Because Hamilton was waived using the stretch provision, $333,333 of his waived contract will count against the salary cap for each of the next two years. Incomplete roster charges If the Bulls go under the cap, theres a cap hold that will cut into the cap space called an incomplete roster charge for each player fewer than 12 on the roster. That charge is equal to the rookie minimum salary, which is $507,336 for 2014-15. Total guaranteed contracts for 2014-15: $63,951,755 Projected salary cap for 2014-15: $63,200,000
Posted on: Wed, 14 May 2014 00:59:53 +0000
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