NEWSLETTER
The Chicago Bulls did a thing. Sure, it may not have been the most exciting thing, but it was a thing!
The team’s newest member, Julian Phillips, came courtesy of a trade with the Washington Wizards for the No. 35 pick. Another swingman with fantastic length and verticality, he’s a 19-year-old project with a lot of room to grow. With that being the case, Bulls fans likely can’t expect him to contribute at a high level next season, which puts even more pressure on the Bulls to make some noise in this upcoming free agency.
Arturas Karnisovas didn’t shy away from suggesting that influential additions will be made in the coming weeks. When asked how he’d address those fans who have worried about the team’s lack of moves, he said the following:
“Well, I think we made a move in the draft. I know it’s a disappointment that it’s not in the first round. But they will have to wait until the free agency to see what we look like after that,” Karnisovas said.
Was that the best answer? No. Not at all, but it at least implies the organization is actively thinking about how to fill specific holes on this roster. Karnisovas brought up the need for shooting multiple times earlier in the press conference, while Marc Eversley even touted the importance of the organization’s recent player development hire (and shooting coach) Peter Patton. So will the organization finally add some shooters?
Nevertheless, the problem with Karnisovas’ confident remark is that the Bulls have … well … very little financial flexibility. The team is currently acting as an over-the-cap team, meaning they have only the mid-level exception ($12.2 million) and bi-annual ($4.4 million) exception at their disposal.
Let’s also not forget that Karnisovas has remained adamant that the Bulls will try to re-sign practically all of their free agents. Negotiations with Nikola Vucevic are reportedly ongoing, while Karnisovas said during the press conference that the team will extend qualifying offers to both Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu (making them restricted free agents, implying the team would like to keep them on board). Re-signing each of these free agents and adding Phillips to the books will inch them closer and closer to the luxury tax line. The expectation would then be that using both the mid-level exception and bi-annual exception – in their entirety – would push the team into the luxury tax.
The Chicago Bulls have paid the luxury tax ONCE in franchise history.
Are they finally prepared to do that again? Does Karnisovsas feel like he has the all-clear from the front office to spend the extra money necessary to turn this team into a playoff threat?
“I think it all depends on free agency, how that goes. Jerry and Michael have always been open to go into luxury tax, if our team is competitive – top-4, top-6 in the East, Karnisovas told reporters. “If there are players in free agency that can improve our team and we’re competitive, we’ll retain our free agents.”
When asked to clarify if he feels like he has the green light from the organization to dip deep into the bank, Karnisovas simply said “yes.”
I’ll believe it when I see it, folks. These are very similar words to the ones we heard Michael Reinsdorf speak to NBC Sports Chicago’s K.C. Johnson two seasons ago. He said if the team was competing for championships, the organization would “absolutely” dip into the tax. I can’t just help but think this is expert wordplay from both parties.
You can’t be a truly competitive team without entering the tax in today’s NBA. And the Bulls say they will not enter the tax without being a truly competitive team. Make it make sense! At some point, if the goal is to win basketball games, the Bulls have to rip off the Band-Aid and jump into the water. I want to believe Karnisovas’ words that the organization is prepared to do that, but I simply can not when we consider the Bulls’ track record.
The good news is we don’t have to wait long to see if this was yet another save-face remark from the franchise. Free agency is only a week away. The only reason for the Bulls not to enter the tax would be for them to take a step backward and retool/rebuild. Otherwise, if the goal is genuinely to add impact talent and battle with the East’s best, empty the pockets! Anything in between would be continuing to settle for mediocrity.
