OKC extends Ibaka Options

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OKC extends Ibaka.

Presti didn't provide details of the contract, citing team policy, but a league source confirmed to ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard that the deal is for four additional years and $48 million.

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In order for Taj to remain a restricted free agent, the Bulls will have to make him a qualifying offer of something in the neighborhood of $5 million. When they do that, that immediately takes $5 million out of their available cap space. Thus, DRose, Deng, Noah, Butler, and Teague, along with a cap hold for Taj, would put the Bulls already having $52 million committed.

If the Bulls wanted that $5 million for something else, they could rescind the qualifying offer to Taj, but then they would lose his Bird rights, and thus they could not go over the cap to sign him. Signing him would be like signing any other unrestricted free agent.

So no, there's no way they could get down far enough to offer Harden $12 million a year without losing both Boozer and Taj, unless they can dump Deng or Noah as well.

Also, be prepared for Taj to get offered well over $8 million a year, probably with a poison pill also. If Omer Asik gets an $8 million a year average, then I could totally see Taj being offered $10-$12.