NBA Rumors: Chicago Bulls won't trade players to create cap space?

No team has been linked to either Carmelo Anthony or Kevin Love more than the Chicago Bulls in recent weeks, but it appears their front office isn’t going to repeat a former mistake.

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As you may recall, back in 2010, the Bulls were rather confident that they’d be signing either LeBron James or Dwyane Wade in free agency. Hell, there were rumors suggesting the Bulls felt they could obtain both, but to do so they had to create cap space. They did exactly that, trading Kirk Hinrich for peanuts on the dollar simply to create the cap space.

Of course, Wade and James both ended up in South Beach with the Miami Heat, leaving the Bulls with nothing for Hinrich (who at the time was a solid guard) and void of either superstar they so desired.

The same situation could potentially pop up this offseason as Carmelo Anthony is expected to opt-out of his contract with the New York Knicks and it’s been said the Bulls are among the favorites to acquire him. Only problem? They don’t have the money to do so, but that doesn’t mean they’re going to trade away talent like Carlos Boozer in the hopes they can obtain somebody like Anthony.

Nope, as according to K.C. Johnson, the Bulls say they’ve learned from their mistake and will only make such a move if they’re completely sure a free agent deal (or possible trade scenario) is certain.

“Remember, Bulls confident they’d land LBJ, DWade or both in 2010 and traded Kirk away for nothing,” says Johnson. “No chance they do that again unless sure.”

Johnson went on to suggest their offseason plan is to use Carlos Boozer, who has one year and nearly $17 million dollars left on his deal, in a sign and trade scenario.

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NBA Rumors: Chicago Bulls won’t trade players to create cap space?

By Bryan Rose | Jun 14, 2014