05-08-2021, 08:13 AM
(05-08-2021, 12:35 AM)F Gump Wrote: How would that work? Lavine already has a contract for 2021-21. And it's hard to see how Chicago is positioned to have significant cap room (unless they plan to let Markanen walk).
Yes, Markkanen is a casualty. Chicago basically has two paths. Create cap room for another good player and take the risk of LaVine as a UFA in 22. Or, they can use space to renegotiate and extend Lavine and lock him down. Markkanen hasn't been a priority for Chicago since the Vucevic trade. Unless he is to be used as part of a S&T with a team that will still have cap room after the deal, there isn't a role for him in either scenario.
Chicago needs $14.2mm in space to renegotiate LaVine and then give him his max extension. The Orlando deal left them a couple million shy without their cap holds on Markkanen and others. The swap of JRich's opt-in amount for T. Young's 21 salary gets them that needed additional space. Two of the cap holds Chicago is letting go of (Temple and Valentine) play fairly significant minutes for the Bulls which would be replaced by Richardson.