Chicago Bulls prepare for free agency fallout
The Carmelo Anthony-sized logjam is coming undone, and perhaps the Lebron one too. The Chicago Bulls are going to be ready for it. Anthony is said to be staying in New York. LeBron is going to – well, not Chicago. So, the Bulls have begun working on what they can control.
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CSN Chicago’s Bulls Insider Aggrey Sam lays out the Bulls plan of action:
"Although the Bulls have also expressed varying degrees of interest to other free agents, from Houston small forward Chandler Parsons, who Wednesday night agreed to a reported three-year, $45-million offer sheet with Dallas, to Washington’s Trevor Ariza, a more likely new addition is 2011 first-round draft pick Nikola Mirotic. According to a league source, a deal with the 23-year-old Spanish forward is “almost done” and because Mirotic’s $3-million buyout to Spain’s Real Madrid (of which the Bulls can contribute $600,000) can be paid over time, his annual salary might not significantly affect the franchise’s salary cap."
Another big target — literally — is Pau Gasol. Their best sell to Gasol is money. Of course, it wouldn’t be bad to work with Derrick Rose, but it’s hard to assume that he’ll be on the court and healthy. The Spurs and the Thunder are the expected leaders, however, as they both have low-post needs and a stronger roster.
Sam also presents perhaps the biggest issue, and that’s Carlos Boozer’s contract and perhaps pending amnesty. The team will explore all trade options to unload Boozer’s $17 million dollar burden. July 16 is the final day to amnesty the veteran.