Knicks' creation of cap room could end up helping Bulls
Is it possible Mike D'Antoni will have the last laugh?
Back in May, he was offered coaching vacancies by the Bulls and the New York Knicks. The former Phoenix coach chose New York, only to watch in dismay about a week later when the Bulls won the right to draft dynamic point guard Derrick Rose at the NBA draft lottery.
Everyone imagined what could have been possible if D'Antoni had Rose to run his fast-paced offensive attack, which was so devastating in Phoenix. Instead, D'Antoni was stuck with the Knicks' collection of highly-paid underachievers.
Then in a single day, New York general manager Donnie Walsh managed to unload the long-term contracts of Jamal Crawford (to Golden State) and Zach Randolph (to the L.A. Clippers). Now there is talk that the Knicks might have enough cap room to sign a pair of maximum-salary free agents in 2010.
The obvious target is Cleveland's LeBron James. But Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire, Dirk Nowitzki and Manu Ginobili are among the other players who could become unrestricted in the free-agent bonanza of 2010.
Besides the lure of playing in New York, many of these free agents may be attracted to D'Antoni's freewheeling offense - at least in theory. D'Antoni has managed to turn the Knicks into the NBA's highest scoring franchise at 105.3 points per game. New York is also giving up the most points in the league (105.9), but Rome wasn't built in a day.
So while a potential shopping spree is being celebrated in New York, the possibility exists that this news could positively impact the Bulls.
How? Well, in order for the Bulls to create significant cap room in 2010, they'd have to swing similar salary-dump trades or let Ben Gordon and Drew Gooden both walk away as free agents next summer.
A better strategy might be to wait for panic to set in among those teams with high-profile free agents.
Maybe some of those players sign extensions next summer. If they don't, the Raptors figure to worry about Bosh leaving Canada. Or maybe Stoudemire believes it's the right time to escape the Suns with Steve Nash and Shaquille O'Neal about to retire.
If any teams want to make a preemptive move to avoid losing a star player to the Knicks or anyone else in free agency, the Bulls will be ready and willing.
Think about it: If Bosh or Stoudemire become available, the Bulls' entire roster would be in play, with the obvious exception of Rose. Teams could pick and choose their own rebuilding plan among players like Kirk Hinrich, Luol Deng. Tyrus Thomas, Joakim Noah, Andres Nocioni, Aaron Gray, Thabo Sefolosha or even Ben Gordon if he re-signs with the Bulls.
If the Bulls could add someone of Bosh's talents to go with Rose, then maybe keep at least one of the Deng, Hinrich and Gordon trio, they'd be in business. Worry about who fills in at the other spots later.
In such a scenario, the Bulls would assume the risks of free agency. But with a talented point guard, big market and the ability to pay more than competing teams, the odds would be in their favor to re-sign any new player.
That's all speculation for the future, though. For now, the Bulls have shown they can beat small teams, like Golden State on Friday, but face big problems against tall front lines, such as in ugly losses to the Lakers and Portland.
Denver doesn't play small ball, but Nene and Kenyon Martin aren't huge, either. If the Bulls can get a second win somewhere along the line, this difficult circus road trip will qualify as a success.
mmcgraw@dailyherald.com