2020-2021 ROSTER TALK: Archived

[DanSchwartzgan]

So I still don´t get it. Dan said the Bulls would trade us expiring awesome Thad Young for shitty extended Jason Richardson, because Zach Lavine wants max money now and apparently is very keen to make his team of the next five years worse in the process, because Duffy told him to.

Do you recall what all happened in the summer of 2016.  Durant went to GS, Barnes signed with Dallas, Dwight Powell got his first big contract at about $9mm per year.  Dallas had just removed his QO in late June making him unrestricted.  Then, Deron Williams agreed to a number and then agreed to whittle that number because the front office figured out they could do the big Dirk one year $25mm deal if they paid DWill a little less.  Schwartz delivered Barnes and got good deals for Powell and DWill in the process.  He was in such a strong position in terms of what he got for Williams that he gave back $1mm so the team could pay Dirk.

Agents have a lot of influence.  They don't make decisions for teams, but they can certainly ask that their backs be scratched if they do a favor for a team.  So, Duffy now controls Chicago's two "stars".  Chicago wants to keep LaVine and the risk is he plays for $19.5 and gets a max elsewhere on the open market (remember when posters thought KP would play for his QO just to get out of Dallas?).  Player and agent want the money a year early, but they have the threat and can excert pressure to get other things.  JRich's involvement accomplishes more than just doing a favor for Duffy.

1. In a trade for T. Young it gives them the $14.3mm in cap room they need to max LaVine in 21 and add the extension off the max.

2. Trading for JRich keeps Chicago from having to retain the holds on Temple and Valentine as he will soak up their minutes.  Temple is 34.  They are 5th and 8th on the Bulls in total minutes.  So, there is an on-court use for JRich.

Your question is basically why do they need to do a favor to get someone to take their bag of money.  But, it is more than that.  They only have so many ways to get the room for the full max.  And once they go under the cap, there are going to be needs that have to be filled.  JRich fills a need well and they can now use their exceptions for other holes.