<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>The Bulls are working on signing F Nikola Mirotic, sources told ESPN. He secured buyout today from Real Madrid according to <a href="https://twitter.com/hoopshype">@hoopshype</a></p>— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) <a href="https://twitter.com/WindhorstESPN/statuses/485056557713874947">July 4, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>This doesn't mean the Bulls pursuit of Carmelo Anthony is over but the cap space required to sign Mirotic restricts options.</p>— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) <a href="https://twitter.com/WindhorstESPN/statuses/485056840841953281">July 4, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Not surprising, but slightly odd timing. If they signed a big FA first, they could still bring him over. But obviously they could structure signings to still make it work at this point.
They can't make any of their big moves (amnesty Boozer, sign Mirotic, sign big free agent) before July 10 anyway. So they still have time to figure it all out.
How? To sign Melo they have to renounce their exceptions, trade some players for no cap space. So then how do they pay Mitotic? Word has been that he would take around $5m to come over. Where do they get that from? If they sign Mirotic first then that counts against the cap and its even less to pay Melo.
For Melo? Using what? Reports are the Knicks have no interest in Boozer so what is NY getting? What supporting cast would be left in Chicago?
If push comes to shove the Knicks my settle on a SnT. The Bulls really do have some attractive assets. It looks like they have essentially taken Gibson and Mirotic off of the table but they still have Butler, McDermott, picks, and even Dunleavy as a sweetener. I think it's good for us though if the Bulls are relying on one of: Melo taking less money (like 17m or less) than offered by Rox or Phil Jackson agreeing to a SnT. Boozer + McDermott + Butler + 1st for Melo + salary dump is not bad for NYK if Melo says he has made up his mind not to return.
*^ Bulls would be left with Rose/Hinrich/Melo/Gibson/Noah + Mirotic/MLE/lower exception/vet minimums. Could upgrade that starting SG spot through trade in season using Mirotic or Gibson and left over picks. Or maybe they retain Dunleavy. I like the Rox roster better but this all seems feasible and winnable.
Exactly... If he wants to win the euro league, this loss may severely decrease Real's chances of winning.
