Chicago Bulls: Preserving future cap-space

The Chicago Bulls spent their 2019 cap space wisely. In a summer where teams splashed out on max contracts, the Bulls only gave out team friendly deals to free agents. With the salary cap projected to rise steadily, how can the Bulls maximise their cap space over the next two years?

2019 season

The 2019 salary cap is 109 million, though Chicago Bulls are only slightly over this number at 114 million, they are hard capped because of their sign and trade of Tomas Satoransky. Anytime a player is sign and traded and the team finishes the trade over the salary cap, they are hard capped at the apron of 138 million for the rest of the season.

This isn’t the end of the world for the Bulls, as they already have fifteen guaranteed contracts on the books. They can also still make trades as long as they aren’t taking on more salary than they send out.

Gazing down contract list, there are three players who are on the last year of their deals. Decisions will need to be made over the coming season on Kris Dunn, Denzel Valentine and Antonio Blakeney. All three players are expiring and will take up precious cap room in 2020. Dunn and Valentine have both shown some flashes in the past three years but will likely not be brought back so room can be made for 2020.

The cap holds ( a placeholder on the teams books for unsigned players ) combine a total of 14 million for these three players. This 14 million could be better spent on free agents in the open market.

The other significant decision for the Bulls is the impending player option for Otto Porter. Porter has a player option in the 2020 season for 28 million but he can be extended prior to this date.

2020 season

With 119 million on the books for the 2020 season, and the cap at 117 million, Porter’s contract will have the most impact on the immediate cap flexibility of this team. If they were able to get Porter to agree to a longer term deal for slightly less per year, this would greatly increase flexibility while also keeping a top class wing on the books.

Assuming Porter opts into his deal next year and the three players mentioned above are let loose, the Bulls will have around 12 million in room next year. This isn’t enough to sign any max free agents but if they were able to move on from Cristiano Felicio they could have up to 20 million in cap room to use on free agents.

The 2020 season will be a pivotal one cap wise as this is the last year that they are likely to have cap room for the foreseeable future. Lauri Markannen and then Zach LaVine will need new contracts in the following years so it will be imperative that every dollar is spent wisely up until then.

Chicago Bulls management have spent nicely in the last year or so. With only the long-term contract of LaVine on the books, they have a nice blend of team friendly contracts and rookie deals. With a weak free agent class next season they can get back on the open market with cap room in the following year.