Chicago Bulls (Photo : Sports Illustrated/Getty Images)
There could be a chance the Chicago Bulls make a big splash in this summer's free agency by making cap-space at the expense of some of the team's core roster.
Steve Kyler of Basketball Insider discussed the possibility of the Bulls making a run at top-talented free agents in July. According to Kyler, such move could happen if the Bulls trade Jimmy Butler and let soon-to-be free agents Pau Gasol and Joakim Noah walk away.
"If the Bulls pass on retaining both players [Gasol and Noah], they could find themselves looking at $65.7 million in guaranteed contract money going into a summer where the salary cap is expected to be at or around $90 million, giving Chicago what could be $24.3 million to spend on new players," Kyler wrote.
"Butler is clearly the most attractive trade chip for Chicago, but they also have a small army of rookie-scale players, as well as what could be the ending contract of Derrick Rose."
Currently, the Bulls (39-39) are two games behind the Detroit Pistons for the Eastern Conference's eighth spot. There is a growing sense that if the Bulls fail to reach the playoffs, the team could head for a major shakeup this summer.
Chris Mannix of The Vertical also believes Butler could be one of the Bulls' trade pieces this summer as part of the team's potential move to overhaul their roster, with the Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic as possible destinations for the 26-year-old shooting guard.
However, Butler has been insistent he wants to stay with the Bulls, adding that he does not plan to go anywhere.
"I don't plan on going anywhere. I can't control what everybody else does," Butler said, reports ESPN.
"I know that this is the city that I love, Chicago. And I want to wear that jersey. I want to wear that name on the front, and I wear it proudly. All I got to do is continue to control what I can control. That's try to help this team win games."
Meanwhile, Gasol and Noah have long been linked to exploring free agency this summer, where the big men could entertain more lucrative deals from other NBA rivals. There is no confirmation whether Chicago plans on re-signing Gasol and Noah, but if the franchise plans on letting the two walk away, it would leave the Bulls with a huge hole to fill in.
On the other hand, Kyler's claims of $24.3 million to sign new players this summer may translate to signing quality talents rather than top players like Kevin Durant and DeMar DeRozan. Combine the scenario with a Butler-trade, the Bulls could have plenty of new faces to play for Fred Hoiberg next season.
