Druish perhaps.

David Griffin said that the Kings never had any expectation of acquiring Lavine and only made the offer sheet to do his agent a favor and get one over on the Bulls. Even Vlade Divac is playing GarPax these days.

I have no doubt though that Lavine will improve leaps and bounds this year. If there's two things Hoiberg has demonstrated effectiveness at in his time as a coach, it's standing up to guys who want to ISO too much at the expense of his offensive system and improving the defensive performance of players weak on that end of the court.

This doesn't make any sense. The Bulls still could have declined to match the offer and they'd have been stuck with him.

Sacramento isn't in a position to "stick it" to anyone as woebegotten as they have been.

Divac is probably gone after this season if they don't show any improvement. He'd better worry about his own house.

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Not if you know the number the Bulls would match.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

At that number it doesn't hurt to resign him. Still a young player and you can move him in a yr or 2 if you don't think he is a guy you can win with. Bulls miscast him as a franchise player and he isn't that but he can still be a good player. They aren't paying him franchise type money so i don't know what all the fuss is about.

You don't let young talented players walk out the door for nothing.

No doubt that if the Bulls would have done that you'd be hearing how they really don't have anything to show for the Butler trade but Lauri Markannen. They (GarPax detractors) don't like Dunn much either.

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We already accept that the Bulls lost that trade. Now it has been compounded.

The Bulls had room for two max contracts next summer. Now they do not. Lavine is getting paid like he should be your third best player. He will never be a third best player on a competing team.

Hell, you thought Butler needs to be the third guy on a competing team. Butler is far better than Lavine.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

The Bulls didn't lose that trade. Well you may not have noticed (trust me you didn't) Minnesota isn't a contending team. Butler as the best player gets you nowhere.

That trade is killing Minnesota right now. Butler can be better than Lavine but Lavine isn't the best player from the trade from a Bulls perspective. Lauri and possibly Dunn will be better. This trade favors the Bulls to the point where it isn't even a discussion at this point.

Malcontent Butler already wants out.

Name the "contending team" which will have Butler as its best player?

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It would be an unlikely surprise for Lauri Markannen to ever be as good as Bulls fans already think he is. Not saying he's trash, but he's way overrated.

He can play and people had him as a bum on this very board last season. Kid's a player.

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He may be a decent NBA player but he's got a long way to go before he can be considered a foundational, cant-miss, type guy.

Don't know if he is that but considering he was considered another of the stupid GarPax selections 12 months ago its a wonder we can even have that conversation.

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All signs point to be him being a really good player.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

None. He's a #3 on a championship team. Him on Philly or Boston makes them a legit threat to the Warriors.

_________________
Sherman remarked, "Well, Grant, we've had the devil's own day, haven't we?" Grant looked up. "Yes," he replied, followed by a puff. "Yes. Lick 'em tomorrow, though."

I am reading different things on this. Some say they still have room next year. Others say they do not.

Ron Wolfley stated earlier they still had room with LaVine accounting for 17% of next years cap. IMU says they don't.

Where is the truth?

_________________
"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Last I heard is they are projected to have $44 million in cap space next year if they don’t sign anyone else. If that number isn’t exact it’s very close.

Problem is right now 11 teams are projected to have room for at least 1 max FA and 3-4 teams enough for two. It’s the opposite of this summer when it was just the Bulls, Kings, and Hawks for the most part.

The move is defensible if you want to be an optimist. Markkanen and Lavine could be really good in pick n roll plays. Dunn and WCJ compliment them well. Valentine and Portis are good rotation players with potential to still improve a bit. Who knows with Hutchinson. The problem with optimism, and what Zeph alluded to, is Hoiberg is still our coach so this team will not reach its potential or even close. But they do have a lot of potential as a unit and unfortunately it may be worst case scenario where they grab a 7th/8th seed, keep Hoiberg his job, and then still miss out on guys like Kyrie or Kawhi or whoever next summer.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

Depending on Free Agents ( High end anyway) is a flawed concept because the better Free Agents will only switch teams if they believe they will compete for somwthing. Otherwise they go for the money.

No player is going to take a paycut to join developing players. That is why tanking made so much sense. Draft a franchise type of player and then you can attract other franchise type players.

The Cap Space game rarely is successful.

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They have a lot of young talent now. With the right coach they could push to win 45-50 games in a very weak East. That plus their cap flexibility could be intriguing to a lot of high end FAs. But of course the FO and coaching staff and medical staff and owner all suck so it’s an uphill battle.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

It sounds good to say they are "one coach" away but it is simply not true. They can compete for an 8 seed and that is about it.

Hoiberg actually did a good job last season all things considered. Demonstrated he can coach.

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I just don't think any top 5 player in their prime is coming to play with a non established group of youngsters without another superstar joining him.

Besides, the city of Chicago has yet to appeal to a superstar FA and their family.

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That’s why they need to establish themselves next year. They are going to compete.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

Probably true. But I would think Butler could be the exception. He has already said he would be glad to play in Chicago again. He doesnt seem to want to go back to Minny, and if he and Kyrie really want to team up in the East then Chicago could be a good place for that..

Kyrie
LaVine
Butler
Markk
Carter

_________________
"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Hoiberg would have to go in that scenario.

_________________

He has to go in any scenario where the Bulls are competitive again.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

_________________
Sherman remarked, "Well, Grant, we've had the devil's own day, haven't we?" Grant looked up. "Yes," he replied, followed by a puff. "Yes. Lick 'em tomorrow, though."

The only players under contract next year are LaVine, Felicio, Carter, and Hutchison = $33.7 million. Assuming they pick up team options for Markannen, Dunn, and Valentine = $47.7 million. Projected cap next summer is $108 million. So they’d have roughly $60 million to spend. Not quite enough for 2 max contracts. I was mistaken before. I think I forgot about money for the rookies.

Max contract = $32.4 million. Bulls are $5 million shy offering 2 max deals.

Zach guarantees a quadruple single for the year

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I'm going to bounce from the spot for awhile but I will be back at some point to argue with you about this hoops stuff again. Playoffs have been great this season. See ya up the road.

I'm out.

Great move. Could see him winning another dunk contest.

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I'm going to bounce from the spot for awhile but I will be back at some point to argue with you about this hoops stuff again. Playoffs have been great this season. See ya up the road.

I'm out.

I think he’s worth $20 million.