No one is saying it's a joke, we're just joking about it. There's a difference. But I just don't see Lebron leaving and if they do trade him, it will cost a ton.

Looking at Cleveland's salaries and who they have locked up, I can't see them getting much better talent around LeBron. Hughes salary is horrible. Not to mention Snow and Marshall. Besides Varejo, Cleveland doesn't have much young talent to put around LeBron. And they don't have the cap space to put in some solid veterans.

If LeBron doesn't see some movement from Cle. this yr, he could let them know he'll prob. go elsewhere

http://www.hoopshype.com/salaries/cleveland.htm

Exactly what I was talking about when I made this post. That lineup stinks. Lebron knows it, I know it, you know it. Anyone who doesn't know it must be blind.

11+ (topping out at $13 million) for Larry Hughes is a joke. If Cleveland is smart they will dump that on New York. Damn that makes $15 to Ben Wallace look like pocket change. $9+ to Ilguaskas is bad but they had no choice. The 6-7 million for snow is rediculous. This looks like Iggy's last year so that $9 million could come off the books. But who do they go after then. They will have no center. And Cleveland has to give Lebron the max so how much more worse does their salary situation get. 5 year $80 million = $16 million per year.

The $4 million to Damon Jones didn't help either. Anyway they need to deal Larry Hughes and start over.

Is Lebron willing to wait to start over? That is the whole point of my post.

I think the Bulls pull off the Wilcox trade they are talking about. I think they lock him up for 6 years $48 million. They have Wallace at $15 million. P.J. Brown leaves next year that is $8 million off the books. The Bulls trade either Wilcox or Wallace in a deal (depending on how good Wilcox plays this year), along with Deng, and either J.R. Smith or the number 1 pick. (or any combination of 3 players any one being but not both Wilcox and Wallace)

I don't see how the Cavs can't take that. Preferably the Bulls deal Wallace (if Wilcox emerges) and the Bulls are loaded with a bunch of 24-28 year olds in the prime of their careers that can really play alongside Lebron.

(Gordon and a few other Bulls forwards are already gone as part of the Wilcox deal that brought over Ridnour and Wilcox)(see my other post on the wilcox trade link)

C - Wilcox/Collison/Schenscher
PF -Nocioni/Thomas/Collison
SF- Lebron James/Nocioni/Thomas
SG J.R. Smith/Sefolosha/Hinrich
G Hinrich/Ridnour/Sefolosha


and the Bulls have enough money to still pick up a center/power forward that summer because they unloaded P.J. Brown, and Wallace/or Wilcox. They get Wilcox for half of what Ben Wallace costs and they use the Ben Wallace signing to lure the best player in basketball.

You have to say buy to Gordon in the Seattle trade. And Deng, Wallace and the Number 1 pick for Lebron. But it is like stealing Babe Ruth from the Red Sox.

Lebron makes J.R. Smitt 10 times better. He also allows Hinrich to score more and get more open threes instead of having to create his own shot all the time. Wilcox and Lebron thrive with the inside outside game and the Bulls win 6 straight titles (unless Lebron chooses to take a couple of years off to play wide receiver in the NFL)

I do believe people are reading into this way too much. If it gets to be after contracts can be signed, then maybe we can talk, before that, its all idol speculation.

Well officially Ben Wallace signing and the New Orleans trade haven't happened so I guess we should stop talking about them too.

I just so excited. And I can't hide it. Because Paxson has put the Bulls in a situation where they have the ability to do things that not many other teams can do. They have the talent (young) and now they have the verterans. They have the expiring contracts and they have a high number one pick. When have you ever seen a team put together so beautifully.

I love Paxson. I loved him when he was with the Bulls and I love that he is back with the Bulls.

One big difference is that both parties have agreed to both of those transactions. LeBron hasn't said he wants to leave, and Cleveland hasn't said he doesn't want to come back, so without SOMEONE saying this with some intimate knowledge of the situation, it is a pie in the sky right now.

Yeah and so was the Ben Wallace signing before he agreed to it. I be you said the same thing then.

Even that had at least a solid rumor out in public. In reality what is this whole house of cards built off of? The fact that LeBron hasn't pubically orally agreed to a contract extention? Its a pretty big leap to go from that, to a sign and trade deal with Cleveland for one of the best players in the NBA.

Yes I know this. But if you think about it what team makes the most sense for Lebron. That is the whole point of everything I am talking about. I am not saying it is going to happen.

why isnt Kirk worth that much?... Actually, theres a lot of teams that would easily pay that... Kirk is a very good point guard in the NBA. I know he isnt the greatest offensive player, but he is one of the best defensive point guards. And coaches know that Basketball is about being able to play both sides of the court. Ive also heard fans from other teams say that they would love to have him, and they would even give him the max I kinda thought to myself that thats going overboard.... But at the same time, it just shows you how highly other people think of him.

-We overvalue our players soo much sometimes, but there are times when we undervalue them too... IMO, this is one of the times.... Kirk definatly deserves somewhere around chandlers contract.

I can't believe cleveland would let him get away, but having said that they are sure trying their best.

That team has zero chance to win a championship in the near future and Lebron has to know it. He may come here for the money and Jordan legacy, but he will say it is to win a championship.

Also, in a sign and trade, if that were to happen, the Cavs would never take ben wallace. They would be rebuilding if they traded him and don't want someone at the end of his career.

Right now Lebron hasn't committed to the contract bc he wants to scare cleveland, I feel. YOu have to know that cleveland is having the same thoughts that we are, that right now it they don't look like championship contenders and that we (and maybe others but we are the big name in the media right now) do. Just messing with them this much could light a fire under their asses and make them do something. If it doesn't, and they call his bluff, he could be ours.

There are players a lot worse than Kirk that are making $10 mil or more. He's a pretty solid PG and would be a good guy to hang onto. My guess would be that he'd be the last guy to go if we had to dump players/salaries.

I absolutly agree Zoom.

When Deng's contract comes around that is the guy who will deserve the $10 million contract.

I wouldn't mind Hinrich getting $7.5 but every player can't get $10. Hopefully Nocioni doesn't look for more than $6 million elsewhere. What are the Bulls going to do. There are so many players I want them to keep but realistically how many will accept lower than market value to stay with the team?

Deng still hasnt proven much... A guy doesnt automatically get that much money just based on potential...

-Im not even sure if Deng will get paid over 60... Deng is just looked at right now as a good role player... and im not sure if Deng is gonna have enough playing time to show what he can really do, and post up those monster stats that many people seem to believe ... the Bulls are just too stacked up right now...

-Me, personally, i think it would be awesome if we could keep Kirk for cheap.... but just by thinking realistically, dont be suprised if he gets 55+.... And he definately deserves it. he's a hard worker, and he is pretty much a "perfect" player in what Scott Skiles and Paxson want.