Exactly.

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When you look at the numbers it wouldn't be a bad business move for LeBron to leave as a free agent especially if he can make up the money lost in endorsements. It's not really that much money either. The Cavs can offer LeBron a 6 year deal worth $133M (an average of about $22.2M a year). If he signs with someone else he will make $102M over 5 years (an average of $20.4M a year). Shouldn't be hard for a guy as marketable as him to make that up in a city like Chicago or NY. Plus as has been mentioned he will probably have an opt out clause after 3 years so he can be in position for another pay day.

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I was under the impression that the Bulls would have to move two of these players by the deadline to afford 2 max FA's, Salmons, Deng and Hinrich. But recently I read that the Bulls can opt-out of Salmons final year on his contract which means they wouldn't have to move him. Deng seemed impossible to move with his contract but the Suns are apparently interested in getting him in a trade for Amare. I'm not a big fan of giving Amare a huge deal, but if you can move Deng and just use Amare as a rent a player and clear Dengs salary I don't see why they wouldn't. That being said, Marc Stein reported that the Celtics offered up expirings for Hinrich and the Bulls turned it down, which is troubling if true.

As for Simmons, hes been sold on the Bosh/LeBron have a deal to play together conspiracy since the offseason. All reports indicate that the Raptors wont trade Bosh before the deadline, which means it will probably happen. But they can offer him more money than anyone so they could do a sign and trade this offseason. The Raptors seem to think that they're starting to click and that they could make a run in a wide open East.

I don't blame the Bulls for not making the deal. It's too early to settle. That deal will still be there at the deadline.

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Everything I have read and heard says this is a player option, not a team option.

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

You are correct. If he was playing the way he was last year he probably would have opted out. No chance now.

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Does anyone else find this pretty ironic?

As for the rest, Nas even under the conditions you mentioned, the Bulls would somehow have to move 2 out of the 3 of Kirk, Deng, Salmons to make the deal with Bosh work. Nobody wants Kirk or Deng. I dont think Salmons has many suitors either. I'm pretty pessimistic we will get a big deal done in the next couple weeks. With any luck, we will get ONE big FA this 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

Moving Kirk and Salmons will be easy. Moving Deng is something different unless the Suns rumor is true. I really don't want Amare.

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I don't want amare either, good thing there is always the possibility of a 3 way trade.

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

Uh...no, it wont. We've been trying to trade Kirk for two years. Toronto is one of the worst fits in the NBA for him. Who else on the market wants him? Maybe the Grizzlies, only because Chris Wallace is their GM though. I highly doubt he's getting moved. Ditto with Salmons. Who is taking him? The only part we are in agreement on(AKA the only part you're right about ) is we dont want Amare.

_________________
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

We'll see what happens the next 3 weeks. Teams that are fighting for a championship will take risks that other teams won't. Also teams that believe they will lose a guy and get nothing in return will make these type of deals.

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I just have that indigestion-like feeling that we are gonna get this year's version of Ron Mercer..

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1926-1931-1934-1942-1944-1946-1964-1967-1982-2006-2011

I don't have that feeling which is why I don't see boozer coming here. If he does then I will.

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

I dont want Amare either but I'd take him for the remainder of the season if it meant getting rid of Dengs contract. And what are you gonna get for Kirk other than expirings? Guess I'd rather get rid of two of those contracts and strike out swinging this offseason as opposed to having those contracts fuck-up the Bulls chances of getting two FA's. I figure Noah and Rose are the future of this team and wether Kirk or Deng is around really seems unimportant.

Not sure why many of you want to dump Deng. He has been one of the Bulls best players and he is the only guy that has shown he can hit an open shot. He is only overpaid by a James Johnson. That isn't a lot of money. Trading him for an expiring deal wouldn't be a smart basketball move.

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Well, as I've been saying, I think you need to dump 2 of 3 contracts to have a shot at 2 max FA's. In a financially strapped league the pickings are pretty slim and getting expirings might be your best shot. Could be basketball stupid, but I think as long as you have Noah and Rose you'll be ok in the long run even if you don't have a blockbuster offseason. Even my worst case scenario has the Bulls getting George Karl.

I think the Bulls will find a way to get rid of Kirk and Salmons. That would put them in position to sign 2 guys. At the very least it would put them in position to get a stud SG and a David Lee. I would love to see him and Noah play together.

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Agreed. I think they can get rid of them but I'm not expecting much in return, maybe a 1st round pick that will suck anyway might get thrown in with expirings at best. A David Lee and Joe Johnson offseason wouldn't bother me Well, unless Bosh and LeBron ended up in Miami. I just want the Bulls to be in position to snag two elite players, even if they dont.

I agree, which is why Toronto might end up dealing Bosh. They have no need, and therefore no desire I would think, to trade for Kirk. They already have their own overpaid PG's to worry about.

_________________
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

Personally I dont want anything else.

_________________
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

I definitely wouldnt want to trade Deng for just expiring contracts. I cant forsee even GarPax being that stupid.

_________________
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

unless the bulls plan on getting a SF this offseason to take his place i think deng needs to be one of the keepers.

Exactly, especially because, as of right now, it's questionable that we'll even have one max salary to offer with the cap declining. They have to move John Salmons for an expiring deal to ensure one maximum slot.