Douchebag wrote:
Gone:
Ben Gordon: If the Bulls want to make a splash in 2010, they cannot sign Gordon. I hope they don't try either. You can find another Dell Curry somewhere else.
Aaron Gray: His role has been cheerleader since the Miller/Salmons trade, he gone. I will miss the White Panther
Lindsey Hunter:Bye Grandpa
Staying:
Luol Deng: As much as I don't like it, there is nobody out there that is going to take on his contract this off-season before the 2010 frenzy. Hopefully Deng will have a solid/healthy year next season and we can move him to a team that strikes out in the 2010 free agent market next summer and then resign Salmons.
Kirk Hinrich: If Gordon leaves, then I think you have to keep Kirk around. His contract is better over time since it was front-loaded.
Tim Thomas and Brad Miller are going nowhere. Their contracts come off the books next summer.
I wouldn't mind seeing Linton Johnson back next year. He looked okay in limited action, and I would like to see him get a chance for a bigger role in training camp. You are not going to get far in this league with a 7 man rotation.
There really won't be any big moves being made this summer for the Bulls. I expect them to sign a 6th man that can knock down the three and sign a stiff to replace Aaron Gray, that's really about all I see them doing. They will probably fill out the rest of the roster with one-year deals with no-risk players and hope for the big signing in 2010.
Every move they have made of late has been to free up cap room for 2010 so it would surprise me if they signed Gordon to a big deal this off-season. At best, given the economy, maybe the Bulls get lucky, and he does a 1 year deal and tries again next off-season. I'm not holding my breath though on that happening.
I tend to agree with your analysis - sort of sitting back, waiting for the 2010 off-season, and taking a crack at what's available then. Of course, that could change if Toronto/Phoenix decide to make a pre-emptive move this off-season, the Bulls will be in the mix for either of one of these guys given the cap space (expiring deals) they can offer.