Deng out "a while", Gibson likely out Thursday Options

[Balta1701-B]

This ought to be fun. Can Derrick Rose single handedly beat any team in the league? We're about to find out.

The Bulls announced Wednesday that forward Luol Deng (strained right calf) will be out "a while" and figures to miss at least two games after an MRI this morning confirmed the injury.

"He has a little calf issue, a little strain," coach Vinny Del Negro said of Deng. "We'll see how he feels, but I think he's gonna be out for a while. I don't know how long."

Also, rookie Taj Gibson is questionable for Thursday's game against the Orlando Magic with plantar fasciitis in both feet. Gibson has been playing with the injury since training camp, but was noticeably hampered in Tuesday's loss against the Utah Jazz. He was scoreless with one rebound before fouling out in 12 minutes.

"I don't know yet," Del Negro said when asked if Gibson would play against the Magic. "His plantar fasciitis was really acting up and he was sore and I sat him today.

"We really have to find some bodies. Maybe we'll just play small tomorrow. Real small. I don't know yet. But it's hard to do that when you have that guy in the middle down in Orlando."

I want to see Rose guarding Howard.

[Chicago Bulls Fr...]

Correct me if I'm wrong but even if we did get say a top 10 pick that would screw up our 2010 plan wouldn't it?

[Balta1701-B]

Correct me if I'm wrong but even if we did get say a top 10 pick that would screw up our 2010 plan wouldn't it?

I believe you're wrong. We're at $31,861,826 under contract for next year. If the cap drops to $52 million (at the low end of possible estimates and a huge drop from this year). A max contract for anyone except a 10 year vet (including the big 3) is 30% of the cap. At a $52 million cap, that would be $15.6 mil. That would take us to $47.46 million, leaving us $4.54 million remaining under the cap for a draft hold. The rookie salary for the #1 pick next year is $4.4 million.

If the cap winds up being $51 million and we get the #1 pick, we'd probably have to make a move to be able to offer a max deal, but the #1 pick is nearly $500k more than the #2 pick.

At a $50 million cap, we could offer a max deal and afford a $3.1 million draft hold. That would mean we'd have to pick at 5 or later.

[Chicago Bulls Fr...]

I believe you're wrong. We're at $31,861,826 under contract for next year. If the cap drops to $52 million (at the low end of possible estimates and a huge drop from this year). A max contract for anyone except a 10 year vet (including the big 3) is 30% of the cap. At a $52 million cap, that would be $15.6 mil. That would take us to $47.46 million, leaving us $4.54 million remaining under the cap for a draft hold. The rookie salary for the #1 pick next year is $4.4 million.

If the cap winds up being $51 million and we get the #1 pick, we'd probably have to make a move to be able to offer a max deal, but the #1 pick is nearly $500k more than the #2 pick.

At a $50 million cap, we could offer a max deal and afford a $3.1 million draft hold. That would mean we'd have to pick at 5 or later.

How does the whole pick thing workout between the Bulls and Bucks? Is it top 10 protected or something?

[Balta1701-B]

How does the whole pick thing workout between the Bulls and Bucks? Is it top 10 protected or something?

The Bucks have the right to swap picks with the Bulls if the Bulls do not have a top 10 pick.

The Bulls currently sit in draft spot #11. The problem is...they're about 7 games ahead of the Clippers. So unless the Bulls go 0 for the rest of the season (honestly, I'm not ruling that out right now) it's going to be difficult for them to not wind up having the Bucks swap picks with them.