Joakim Noah lifts Derrick Rose as Taj Gibson looks on. (Photo : Getty Images)
The summer of 2016 will see an unprecedented rise in the salary cap and the free agents will have more choices than ever before.
Kevin Durant is the clear leader of the pack (on the assumption that LeBron James will not leave Cleveland). The max contract for players like Durant could reach as much as $ 25 million and teams that have that much cap space can sign him outright. Teams like the LA Lakers who can have over $ 60 million to spend have an advantage.
A team like the Chicago Bulls might be hard-pressed to be a major player, but Hardwood Paroxysm contends that they can make a way, but it entails a tough choice: to waive Derrick Rose.
"In no way has Derrick Rose performed to the level of money (21million+) that he will make next season," HP declared. "As much as he has done for the city of Chicago, it might be time to move on from Rose."
By waiving Rose, the Bulls will lose him but still pay him $21 million. However, by invoking the "stretch provision," his last year's salary will be paid in three years, at $ 7 million each. This will give them an extra $ 14 million to work with.
Other moves would be to trade Taj Gibson and renounce free agents like Joakim Noah and Kirk Hinrich. Also, it considers that Pau Gasol will not invoke his player option and become a free agent and sign elsewhere.
HP evaluates: "It isn't enough to fit in two players of the 30 percent max criteria, but it is enough to fit one of the Kevin Durant, Al Horford, Mike Conley superstars and then add another lower tier max player such as Hassan Whiteside, Jordan Clarkson, or Harrison Barnes."
Adding Durant and Whiteside to a team with Jimmy Butler, Nikola Mirotic, Tony Snell, Bobby Portis and Doug McDermott could give them an entirely new look.
In the Chicago Bulls Real GM forum, most users are no longer averse to waiving Rose, confirming that the fans may be ready to move on. User 'sco' says: "The Rose option is interesting. If, by the end of the season he still hasn't returned to form, I'd dump his butt. If he shows signs, I think the right play is to let him play another year with hope of improvement and bring in a guy with potential to be his replacement."
Will the Bulls ownership actually do it? Keeping Rose will make them spectators for another year, only enabling minimal changes. The problem is, most pundits believe this group has reached their ceiling.
