Trade & FA 2024-25:

[SleepingHero]

Evan Sidery (@esidery)
Due to the DeMar DeRozan sign-and-trade with the Spurs in 2021, the Bulls do not technically own their 2025 first-round pick.
Chicago’s pick is top-10 protected, so they are fully incentivized to potentially attempt to bottom out in what is regarded as an elite draft class.

I know DeRozan doesn't have many fans here and he will require a SnT (thus hardcapping at 178), but as a 3rd scorer he'd be overqualified. 
Teams can't just leave DeRozan like they can DJJ. Sure he's not a knockdown 3pt shooter, but 1 dribble and he's at his bread and butter mid range where he's nearly 50% at. That's on top of his ability to get to (and finish) at the rim. He can also facilitate very well for a wing. His defense isn't bad as well. Is he elite? No. But he is still mobile enough to hang with anyone on the perimeter and smart enough to be in the right places. 

If he could be had for 22mil, a trade of THJ+Green+2025 FRP for a 3yr 70mil deal is a pretty great one on paper. Such a deal would leave the Mavs salary right at 171mil and will still allow DJJ to take the 1+1 TP-MLE.

If DJJ balks, I'd then turn to Portland and try to swing a trade for Thybulle using Hardy+Powell+2nds. That'd put the Mavs right at the 1st apron.

Roster:

Player                  Salary           Notes
1 Doncic              43,031,940
2 Irving               41,000,000     ULTBE $1,000,000
3 DeRozan           22,500,000
4 PJ Washington   15,500,000     ULTBE $500,000
5 Gafford             13,394,160
6 Thybulle            11,000,000
7 Maxi                 11,000,000
8 Lively                 5,014,560
9 Exum                  3,150,000     Team Option 6/28
10 Omax               2,870,400
11 Morris               2,093,637




Dead                     2,208,856    McGee

Total Salary         172,763,553 

                                               Space Under/(Over)
First Apron          178,655,000      2,403,561
Second Apron      189,486,000    13,234,561

Lineups:

Luka
Kyrie/Exum
DeRozan/Thybulle
PJ/Maxi/OMax/Morris
Gafford/Lively

Mavs will have 3 roster spots to fill with vet players and about 6 mil to do it. Based off these lineups, they need at least 2 more guards. Eric Gordon comes to mind as 1 vet. shooter. Patty Mills is another. Finally another backup center to replace Powell. Does Love want to come ring chase?