With the Chicago Bulls having fired Tom Thibodeau last summer, packing up his defensive prowess and half-court offense in exchange for Fred Hoiberg, whose claim to fame is an up-tempo system that has yet to be fully seen, change is long overdue. So, what does that mean for the Chicago Bulls in the final days of the regular season, leading up to the start of free agency?
Of the athletes testing the free agent market this summer, the Chicago Bulls should make Kevin Durant their top priority this summer.
While management’s attempts to bring in blockbuster names such as Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James have failed in previous years, 2016 could be the ‘Year Of the Chicago Bulls’ and to bring an athlete of Durant’s caliber could be a fine investment toward the team’s success, as well as the future of Durant himself.
In order to satisfy and secure a contract with Durant, the Chicago Bulls have to be crafty and aggressive in their pursuit. First, management has to clear up cap space giving the squad the ability to take on the competitive monetary demands of Durant. So, who’s in and who’s out?
The answer to that question is simpler than it may first appear: move the contracts for Pau Gasol, Joakim Noah and Mike Dunleavy. A decision to trade or not re-sign these veterans alone frees up about $29 million and would remove the uncertainty that arises when relying on aging veterans to help the squad stay competitive.
To make the package deal most enticing for the All-Star forward, the Bulls cannot remain stagnant in their negotiations. The ceiling for a star of Durant’s talent will draw in a number of suitors who could match that offer.
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It would behoove the Bulls to finesse the deal by including a two-year opt out clause in addition to offering 2-3 percent equity – available to him in future team revenues over the course of a five-year contract and if he wins a championship in Chicago, the opportunity to claim a stake in the franchise extends again should he decide to retire.
What’s proposed here as a potential contract offering would be a historic move that’s never been done before. Durant would be the first player to receive such an offer, after a similar deal arranged between Michael Jordan and Washington Wizards fell through.
If all goes as proposed here, Durant would be playing alongside the likes of Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler. It’s a win-win for a team as stacked with talent as the Bulls, after what seems might be a dismal season for the team this year.
The Bulls could have three draft picks heading into the 2016 NBA Draft, so scouting and selecting replacement players to play the center position with Gasol and Noah facing the chopping block wouldn’t be a problem.
In this scenario, it allows the team to keep Taj Gibson, Bobby Portis and Nikola Mirotic – athletes who would all likely fill in at power forward in the future.
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Should the Chicago Bulls make Durant a top priority this summer, they must grab life by the horns and refuse to let the opportunity get away. Fans have become all too accustomed to seeing management fail in attracting blockbuster names in free agency. It’s time for them to start seeing red again.