First one ......

To Orlando:
SF Luol Deng

To Chicago:
SG Mickael Pietrus and C Marcin Gortat

Cap wise, it's about $250 negative for the Bulls this year and $400 next, but becomes very cap friendly in 12 and beyond when Rose is due.

Not bad.

Gortat would be a solid backup off the bench and Mickael Pietrus wouldn't be bad off the bench either because of his ability to knock down the 3. If this move also involves an additional trade that gets Kirk out of town then I really like it.

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Isn't the goal to make a move to free up cap space for two max players for this off-season though?

I think this is Plan B, to add players that complement #6's game better. Deng is relatively useless if you get 6.

Yes. Gortat wouldn't be playing either if the Bulls are able to land a guy like Bosh. Of course if the Bulls have a deal worked out for Bosh that includes Noah this could be their way of covering their ass. Would be a great move for the Magic.

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Deng can shoot so he will have value. He extended his range last season too.

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I actually like Deng's game and I don't like the idea of trading him for two role players. Everyone wants to say that Pietrus is a great 3pt shooter, but he actually shot a lower % than Deng did last year (granted a huge discrepency in attempts).

The only way I like moving Deng is for a clear cap dump that frees you up enough for a second Max (or near Max, ala Boozer/Joe Johnson) free agent. According to KC Johnson today, they have between $20 and $22MM in cap space (let's assume $22) - a max guy costs you $16.5MM, leaving you with about $5.5MM .... combined with Deng's $11.3MM gives you another $16.8MM.

Of course, you'd only have 6 guys under contract .....

If this team is going to go all-in, and sign two max guys, I would hope that Uncle Jerry would be willing to push this team a little into the luxury tax.

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Uncle Jerry was willing to pay the luxury tax for Kobe. As long as he has a guy that will make him money I sure he has no problem paying the tax.

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There was "talk" about getting rid of #1 draft pick because of the salary. I read where Washington wants more draft picks and an article in their local paper mentioned players that were on the block. One was Andray Blatche. Who?

6'-11" 260 pds PF. 14.4 pts 6.3 rb 2.1 ast per game. But he played more later in the year and scored more in 20's to 30 pts per game. Salary: $3.26 this year and $3.5 next. If be Deng could be part of a bigger trade.

Washington is an interesting team because they could take on Deng's salary and the first round pick in a trade because they have the cap room.

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The way Blatche played down the stretch, I don't see Washington trading him as part of a deal for Deng.

I agree.

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Perhaps they think that his value will never be higher after that run and now is the best time to trade him?

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

Great point

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I doubt there is any real way the Bulls could finagle the top pick from Washington without giving up like 2 future 1st rounders. Even then, we dont need J.Wall, but we could use Cousins. However, Hov and many insiders agree the kid is crazy.

I think itd be hard to move Luol for anything relevant considering his play hasnt matched his above average contract. With salary dumping, you dont usually get anything special in return. If we could move up 4 or 5 spots into the lottery I think that would be a win no matter what kind of scrub veteran we get in return for Lu.

If the Bulls are this adamant about ridding themselves of salary, then you can bet GARPAX Reinsdorf is looking to land 2 big names, not just one.

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Latest rumor, courtesy of Chris Broussard of ESPN:

Deng + 17 to the Clippers for the 8th pick

Pretty much a straight salary dump to the Clips who are resigned that they won't sign a big FA this offseason.

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Good to see they are agressively looking to unload Deng's contract. He definately needs to go bye bye at his salary.

That would actually make sense for both teams. IMO that would make the Clippers a playoff team in the west. If I'm not mistaken the Bulls would still have to move a little further back in the draft to get 2 full boat guys because of the rookie scale.

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You're right ... the difference in the rookie scale is $1.3 @ the 17th pick and $2.1 @ the 8th pick.

Here's the Broussard article where he defines it:
http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_ ... e-good-fit

If you can move Kirk as well, you're golden.

The Deng deal sounds too good to be true.

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

What's his UZR?

It would if it were any other franchise, unless Isiah Thomas got another NBA front office job.
Never underestimate the ability of the Clippers to screw up.

Tho aren't the Clips in the LeBron sweepstakes, would this knock them out of that? Oh, right, it's the Clippers, n'mind.

If they are smart they realize the chances of Lebron coming there are pretty slim, so if you can get Deng and have a lineup of Baron Davis, Eric Gordon, Deng, Blake Griffin, and Chris Kaman then you do it. If Griffin is able to stay healthy that lineup has the potential to be pretty strong. So I can see why the Clips would be interested in such a deal.

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

They could probably make a deal for Deng any time, why do it pre-draft, pre-LBJ decision.

Clippers luck, Deng would stub his toe and be out for the season again.

It's hard to trade draft picks after the draft, you know, since they don't exist any more.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Yeah, but Deng ain't going anyware, not owed $72 mil over 5 years or whatever. Dat's way too many lettuce for Deng, esp with a lockout around the corner that's going to make younger players even more of a bargain. Why not see what you get at 8, and then if you don't like it, take Deng off Chicago's hands. At this point, Bulls would send Deng to the Clippers for a
Benoit Benjamin jersey, autograph optional. Helluva lot cheaper to keep that 8th pick than to pay Deng's fragile person to hang around.

I had read elsewhere that if the Clippers were to trade the #8 for the #17 and Deng, it wouldn't become official until July 1st because the Clippers don't actually have the cap space to make the trade until then.

Either way, this has been out there since last night, and Broussard has since backed off this some. I think this was probably discussed, but didn't come as close to happening as some may hope. I do think it's obvious that Bulls are doing what they can to move Deng and the #17 pick, but it's going to be pretty tough to pull something off by tonight.