08-15-2021, 01:05 PM
(08-15-2021, 12:46 PM)omahen Wrote: Not sure about your source, but I think Chicago is actually at 121 mil of salaries.
https://www.spotrac.com/nba/chicago-bulls//cap
Yes they are, but they have the MLE and BAE left, which would take them right at the taxline, so now adding Markkanen on the QO would cost them roughly $13M in tax, plus establish them as a repeat offender next season, when the Lavine max extension kicks in (assuming he does stay).
Given their lack of frontcourt depth, do we really believe the Bulls have not secretly negotiated with other FAs already. Maybe promises have been made or at least agents have been told to wait until the Markkanen is resolved with specific numbers communicated. But that´s exactly the reason the Bulls don´t have all the leverage imho: the tax implications.
On the other hand it´s possible the Bulls/Mavs have already agreed on the full TPE + 2nd round pick, because of this scenario, but Markkanen wants more money, and it´s just not there, from the perspective of the Bulls and Mavs, due to the tax implications.