WrigleyField 22

A traded player can't be aggregated with other players for two months after being traded for. S&T explanation doesn't really make sense. Sometimes you can split up trades so a guy is technically traded alone but that doesn't really add up in a Melo hypothetical either. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

He can be used as part of a sign and trade to get Melo. 1.8 mill cap number that expires after this season, We already had a slew of small contracts to use for matching that we're unguaranteed, for immediate cap savings. I don't see the scenario where we need an extra 1.8m plus it hurts your ability to actually have cap space. Also in any trade he can only be traded alone. Now you can split up a larger deal, but unless NYK has a trade exception to use I don't see how you can split him off in a trade. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I can't figure out the Anthony Randolph inclusion at all. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

They certainly have some ammo from the Deng trade. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I think it might actually be slightly more but not a significant movement either way. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I like it! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Padded with plush ivy duh Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

2 years plus 2 option years. 5th year is at worst a QO, but more realistically he signs a new deal as a RFA that they could match in which he'd be able to opt out after 3 years. 7th year is also when the max bumps up to 30% so makes sense that's when an opt out would be. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Actually they control him for 5 years but more like 7. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It's a weird loop hole that's entirely related to the fact that we only signed him to a 2 year deal on his first contract, so we didn't get full bird rights. And the provision allows you to match anyways even though you wouldn't technically have the cap space or exceptions to do so. I think there would probably be better solutions though, like allow a QO system on the third year of any rookie deal, allowing a team to get that third year and bird rights. Then again, perhaps the Bulls should have pushed harder for that third year on the first contract. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk I'm talking specifically about how the cap hit counts one way for the signing team and another for the matching team. There's absolutely no reason to allow it to work like that. But agree, Bulls should have fought harder for a 3rd year. But all indications are that Asik really only wanted a 2 year deal so he could cash in on a larger payday sooner. How else would you structure it though? It's not fair to the Rockets to be forced to have 5/5/15 structure when they have cap space to sign him to a normal contract. The Bulls couldn't have a 8/8/8 structure without Bird rights. It's a strange rule, but it's one the league specifically put in to help the team potentially losing the player. It was designed to help players stay with teams, while before they had no chance of staying. I guess I feel that teams drafting and bringing these international guys over should automatically get bird rights, even if they only sign a 2 year deal. Also it's dumb that the signing team has to only be able to fit the average value of the contract under the cap, despite backloading it in the 3rd and/or 4th year. I don't know, just seems less than ideal. But the only reason it's backloaded is to accommodate the original team. You can't just choose to backload a contract like that. And there's definite logic in the 3 year rule for bird rights. It's be nice like you said if there was just an exception to allow bird rights on rookie players even if they only signed a two year deal, but the current set up is an immense improvement over before. NBA salary cap is whack all around though and the NFL and NHL have much better cap systems. Just make a hard cap around the current apron level and be done with the soft cap experiment. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The hell? Please explain how the ownership and FO are the most "dysfunctional" in the entire league right now. They're only a little dysfunctional in that Forman and Thibs likely hate each other. I think all the other relationships are okay though. And plenty of FO don't get along. True dysfunction is measured in losing and in that regards the Bulls have one of the better FOs in the league. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It's a weird loop hole that's entirely related to the fact that we only signed him to a 2 year deal on his first contract, so we didn't get full bird rights. And the provision allows you to match anyways even though you wouldn't technically have the cap space or exceptions to do so. I think there would probably be better solutions though, like allow a QO system on the third year of any rookie deal, allowing a team to get that third year and bird rights. Then again, perhaps the Bulls should have pushed harder for that third year on the first contract. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That could be now that we're also seeing 2 second rounders. That's nearly one million in extra cap room over 2 vet min spots. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Apparently a deal is in the works to send Chandler & Felton to Dallas in exchange for Calderon, Dalmbert, & Larkin. Speculate away but from a cap perspective this brings down 14/15 salary for NYK, but adds 15/16 salary. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Well it would make sense for any Vitters supporter to back track since he's K'ing at a rate he hadn't ever done outside of his MLB cup of coffee. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Afflalo is a good wing defender. He's not Butler but his shooting more than makes up for that. And if your keeping our all D front court intact we're good. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I only agree to the extent that it's a waste of time and maybe we can flatter Melo and increase our chances by going all in on him over Lebron. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Until we hear anything else I think the only thing you can assume is Lebron is maximizing his earnings. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You need more than just LeBron taking less to make that work. if we hear that bosh and wade are opting out, that's bad news. Agree. However, I think it would be to make a run at Lowry rather than Melo. I don't think everyone takes enough of a paycut to fit all 4 in. I can see them all taking smaller pay cuts to free up $10-$12M for Lowry. Or maybe Gortat. But I never though the Big 3 would be formed, so who knows. Either way I'm praying Bosh and/or Wade don't opt out. I'm pretty sure Bosh is going to opt out. Wade's the question mark. Does he give up less to accommodate or does he take the money knowing that he's never going to see a payday like this again? If Wade and Bosh opt out ; they're planning on pay cuts to bring in extra talent If Wade and Bosh opt in; Lebron is staying and just wants to max out his salary If Bosh opts out and Wade opts in; Lebron is seriously looking at leaving and Bosh is keeping his options open knowing he can still get a lot of dough and doesn't want to be abandoned with a hobbled Wade. Wade will ride it out because he would actually take a significant pay cut and could try recruiting guys to Miami again if both guys actually left. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I think they'd both have to play off the ball a little, but it's really clear Rose needs another guy who can create. If I had to guess Melo ends up dominating the ball more, especially in the half court. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Let the madness begin. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'm starting to believe this. Phil is smart enough to take the long view and realize that Melo doesn't realistically fit a window for the Knicks to contend. Of course he does. Even with a maxed Melo they would have cap room next offseason. If Melo wants to be in NY, he's gonna be. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk For a guy that has never proved he is a #1 player on a title caliber team and with the rest of the roster largely being crap I don't see how you can say Melo clearly fits into the Knicks window when they could conceivably contend. Unless there is some wink wink agreement to bring LeBron into the fold. He was the number one on playoff teams for like 9 straight years, some of them pretty good teams. And with the current state if the East, especially if the Bulls fail to capitalize should remain fairly open as Wade continues to deteriorate and Lebron up in the air. It's no slam dunk, but retaining Melo gives them a better shot than losing him unless the haul is really good. They can't even really luck into a pick because of how leveraged they are for future pick obligations I think. I think whatever picks they still own the next few years are swaps or other teams. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'm starting to believe this. Phil is smart enough to take the long view and realize that Melo doesn't realistically fit a window for the Knicks to contend. Of course he does. Even with a maxed Melo they would have cap room next offseason. If Melo wants to be in NY, he's gonna be. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Baker, at his current rate, TRIPLES that. I think Plaid was going for longevity. I laughter so freaking hard when it was reviled he nearly lopped his fingers off during the offseason as a reason why he could hold a bat. I think he played another entire year after that too. Baker still has a positive WAR for his career. Yeah, I know Baker is technically on pace for some crazy number, but I'm genuinely interested if anyone's entire Cubs career is worse than Koyie Hill's. Eddie Miksis is the worst according to fWAR (-2.8) and having at least 1000+ PAs with the Cubs (2515 PAs). For comparsion, Hill was -1.3 in 834 PAs. If you want the worst regardless of PAs, Jerry Kindall was -3.4 in 849 PAs. If you ask me, even though it was just 1 year, I would vote for Aaron Miles. Kindall costing us a win every 249 PA is pretty bad. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I don't think they'd save much cap space as they'll still have a cap hold assuming it's in the first round. And he won't fall far enough to get as a second rounder. Still could be a nice pick at 19 and maybe be a good trade chip for a Melo S&T. To a team like NY the cap hold isn't s big deal as they're well over the salary cap, but the cap hold would effect their luxury tax. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk