Aside from Drew Gooden, the other two signings agreed to so far have both been with by the Timberwolves, who have agreed to a deal with their former draft pick, Nikola Pekovic. They have also agreed to terms on re-signing the human victory cigar Darko Milicic, now more of a human fail whale.
The impact for the Bulls is that, not only can we not sign Darko Milicic any more (bugger!), but also that another team is off the cap space market. Assume that Brian Cardinal, Damien Wilkins, Oleksiy Pecherov, Sasha Pavlovic, Nate Jawai, Latrell Sprewell, Kirk Snyder, Michael Doleac, Sam Jacobsen, Oliver Miller, Sam Mitchell, Andrae Patterson and Bracey Wright are all renounced. Assume that the only unrenounced FA is Darko; assume that he re-signs for something starting at $5 million, since it looks like he's about to.Assume that Pekovic got $3.5 million in his first year (which, incidentally, is a fine price for him). Assume that Greg Stiemsma (unguaranteed) is waived. That then puts the Timberwolves here;
Al Jefferson - $13,000,000
Darko Milicic = $5,000,000 (estimated)
Martell Webster = $4,800,000
Ramon Sessions = $3,964,320
Corey Brewer = $3,703,472
Sweet sweet Kevin Love = $3,638,280
Nikola Pekovic = $3,500,000
Jonny Flynn = $3,192,000
Ryan Hollins = $2,333,333
Wayne Ellington = $1,078,800
Wesley Johnson = $3,105,500 (unsigned, cap hold)
Ricky Rubio = $2,812,200 (unsigned, cap hold)
Lazar Hayward = $850,800 (unsigned, cap hold)
Total = $50,978,405
= $5,121,595 in cap room to an estimated $56.1 million cap.
Minnesota were earlier rumoured to be interested in David Lee and Rudy Gay. However, barring significant moves elsewhere, they now don't have the cap space to do this. Minnesota never figured amongst the big free agent suitors now anyway, but they previously had the cap space to be significant. Now, they don't. There's one less competitor on the market.
But it does mean that the unlikely yet awesome trio of Gay-Love-Sessions will now never come to pass.
(It's also worthy of note that, had they not done their terrible draft night trade with the Blazers (trading the #16 and Ryan Gomes's unguaranteed contract for Martell Webster), they would have $7,550,395 in cap room instead. Giving up cap space for Martell Webster is never a good idea.)
Filed under: Free Agency
Tags: cap space, Darko Milicic, minnesota timberwolves, Nikola Pekovic, Signings
Mark,
Did you hear that Derrick Byars is back with the Bulls?
Maybe we can have another EPIC debate about keeping him when Summer League is over.
HAHA.
He has every chance of making the team.
Minnesota can kiss Rudy Gay good-bye.
He wasn't leaving Memphis anyway.
Unless he does.
Wow I feel really sorry for Wolves-fans at first they had to deal with GM McHale and after it was finally over they got Kahn...
I love what the summer league team is looking like right now. Lots of shooters on it. Matt Bouldin imo...is almost exactly like Kirk. Tough, physical, competitor. Plus he is 6'5' an can play pg and sg. He will be solid for limited minutes. I like McClinton too. Big time scorer. Morris ALmond is also a great pickup.
I'm interested in how Samardo Samuels and AJ Ogilvy will do.
Has Doug done a summer league breakdown yet? If not, I'll fire one off. Giggidy.
Do it now!! Haha
I am officially changing my name to Darko Milicic...!Wow!
I wish I was a 7-footer...
i go to vandy so im pulling for byars to make the squad. hes a big boy and would be a solid minimum salary guard
How about fellow Vandy alumni AJ Ogilvy? I'm pulling for him to continue the Luc Longley-Chris Anstey-Luke Schenscher role.
He has a chance, too. So do Samuels and John Lucas. It's a decent summer league roster this year.
Any chance Gay can still be involved in a sign and trade?