can someone shed light on how this affects the bulls play to get melo? would they have to give up gibson/butler in order to get melo after the afflalo deal is done?
The Bulls' front office is said to be cheap. Might be they're finding the pragmatic solution to all this, because Melo, while attainable, would involve the Bulls eating the last year of Boozer's contract....which the owner is probably loathe to do. Orlando probably wants those Chicago first rounders.
This probably would take them out of the Melo sweepstakes, but could position them as the frontrunner for Love.
If Morey was Chicago's GM I'd say this move is perfect. Trade Taj Gibson for a floor spreader and use Melo as a stretch 4. Noah/Melo/Butler/Afflalo/Rose. Can play in a very Rocket-like manner. But Thibs LOVES his big lineups. So I'm inclined to believe Afflalo's either Plan B or he's part of a S&T with the Knicks for Melo. Personally, I think the more noise Chicago makes, the better. I think the key to the Rockets FA is LeBron opting out. And if he believes road to the finals would include Indy and Chicago, that's no longer a cakewalk.
All statistics say Afflalo is one of the biggest defensive blackholes in NBA history .All of them. Cna't be any weird luck type thing either.I also remember James Harden owning his soul in Orlando. lol @ "3 & D"
Good move. Id love him here. Really in a bad spot in Orlando. That said- unless an SnT is perfectly lined up (or if they know for sure Melo isnt going there) I dont get why theyre doing it now and not later.
If Bulls amnesty Boozer and unload Mike Dunleavy's contract they get down to about 43 million in salary. If the also unload Taj Gibson's contract they can get to about 36 million in salary. If the cap rises to 63 million then the Bulls have roughly 27 million in cap space. Even if it only goes up to 60 million they would have roughly 24 million in cap space. If they don't unload Taj Gibson's contract their available cap is closer to 16 or 17 million. In the end it depends how much of a pay cut Melo is willing to take. I'm guessing he will not take less than 16 or 17 million at best. By the way, the Bulls current salary is about 64 million.
This is what it appears. Feels like a change in direction for Bulls. Perhaps a more safe/conservative route.
Thursday nite should prove to be Step I in clearing the fog for Summer '14. Of course that still predates the Heat opt-in/out deadline.
Afflao, melo, mirotic losing taj. Tibs is gonna kill them when they get scored on by 110 a night Rose Afflao Melo Mirotic Noah Vs Rose Butler Deng Gibson Noah
