Speaking to K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago on the Bulls Talk Podcast, Bulls president and COO Michael Reinsdorf said the plan is to keep All-Star guard Zach LaVine in Chicago for “years to come” and reiterated that ownership is comfortable with becoming a taxpayer as long as the team is a legitimate contender.
“Absolutely,” Reinsdorf said. “All you have to do is go back and look at the last number of championship teams, how many of them were in the luxury tax? With the nature of the NBA and having a soft cap, if you want to compete for championships, you have to be willing to spend into the tax.”
“I think most people will tell you, ‘I don’t want to spend into the tax if we’re not competing for championships, if we’re not good enough. I don’t want to be the eighth seed or out of the playoffs and go into the luxury tax.’ But when it comes to a team like this, and if we can take the necessary steps next year that allow us to compete for a championship, then for sure we’ll go into the tax. It’s part of the nature of the NBA.”
The stance is one that Reinsdorf and his father – team owner Jerry Reinsdorf – have conveyed in the past. However, the franchise has a history of being relatively conservative in its spending, having paid the luxury tax just once. As Johnson points out, the club was on track to be a taxpayer for a second time in 2014, but traded away Luol Deng after Derrick Rose tore his meniscus in order to get below the tax line.
“That was a particular circumstance,” Reinsdorf said. “You’re not going to see us make trades like that when we’re competing for championships. That doesn’t make any sense.”
As Johnson acknowledges, the Bulls have shown an increased willingness to spend during the last year or two, expanding their player development and scouting departments and carrying full 15-man rosters. They also used a portion of their bi-annual exception to offer Tristan Thompson more than the minimum salary, ensuring they beat out other potential suitors on the buyout market.
Currently, the Bulls owe about $98MM in guaranteed money to nine players in 2022/23. That number would increase to $100MM if Tony Bradley exercises his player option.
A maximum-salary contract for LaVine, who will be an unrestricted free agent, would pay him a projected $35.7MM next season, or $41.7MM if he qualifies for a super-max. Theoretically, Chicago could give him a max deal and still remain below the projected $147MM tax line by filling out the roster with low-cost contracts.
Still, Reinsdorf’s comments suggest the Bulls could be willing to make moves – perhaps on the trade market or using their mid-level exception – that push team salary above that $147MM threshold if ownership feels the club is on the verge of title contention.
“We’re going to spend the money because you have to invest in your team,” Reinsdorf said. “I’m looking forward to it, because if we’re spending in the tax, that means we have a really good team.”
Bulls own is more willing to pay tax than Rockets and Suns
Suns are likely to trade future draft assets to lower the luxury tax next three years
They won’t have to. They already traded Jalen Smith a lottery pick. Plus they are asset rich. Cam Johnson might get sacrificed but he could bring back cheaper guys and 1st. Cam Payne’s 3/18 was a steal. Ayton could bring back a top 5 pick + in a trade of PHX was so inclined.
Don’t mind silly man he is just a bitter rockets fan it sounds like he always hates on them. Phoenix is in and amazing spot right now and has a really good chance to win the a championship this year
ill believe it when i see it
They are leading the Conference. If course they are willing. The United Center is jammed every game for the first time in years.
The Bulls were top team in attendance in all but one year between 2010-2019
Only during covid they were not in the top-2
As a a lifelong Bulls fan, I am really happy to see a Reinsdorf led Bulls team being aggressive and push the chips. This team is a good team. A very good team. However, I see 2nd round still being their cap this year. Defensively we’re really good around the perimeter. Adding TT will help the boards but they still need a bit of size and beef. I think this is going to begin a new Bulls era with teams that are competitive, and front office utilizing every resource for scouting and development
They will also because they traded away picks. If you don’t have your picks you might as well compete at all costs.
Of course. This is pretty much true of any NBA team. If they have a championship caliber, they’ll pay the luxury tax. It’s not really possible to maintain that kind of team without paying the tax. It’s also true that no team is going to pay tax (at least year over year) if they don’t have that kind of team.
How much tax and under what circumstances are the variables, and that, with the Bulls or anyone else without a tax paying history, will not be known until the situation(s) arise.
As they should be, they have made a bunch of money from the bulls
If they’re already making money on a losing team why spend more? It’s a business. Maximize your profit.
You can make more from a winning team, more sponsorships, more expensive tickets, more primetimegames, more shirt sales, higher valuation of the team
And more importantly Chicago fans will grew tired at some point with him spending money on the white Sox and not on the Bulls
If bulls dont offer max for zach,other team will do that.give him max and draft pf.hope blazers go to play off so bulls will have 2 1st rounder
Another worthless article because the play for the Bulls is just sit tight and wait for the guys they already have to heal up. The luxury tax shouldn’t even be a concern until next year and then we’ll see.
Giving Zach Lavine a max contract will almost assuredly prevent us from competing for a championship for years to come. Chicago is finally a FA destination again, let Zach go and sign a better dude to the max or sign and trade zach for another max player. Giving Lavine max contract gonna playout just how it did with Chandler Parsons
It doesn’t mean squat if the Bulls give Zach a max deal or not. Either way he will be playing under his Bird rights so it’s not an issue. The only issue is whether his knee will hold up so that he can be a factor all year and the playoffs. And is there a better option out there? Depends on your point of view. I say yes, lots of people say he’s the greatest thing since sliced bread. I don’t see it that way, but it’s how AK and Eversley see it that matters.
Have you seen the FA market, dude?
There is no one remotely close to ZLV in the market this summer, so he is their best signing.
You see, that is CHI’s problem, not only is a dysfunctional organization but a cheap one with cheap fans!
Just pay the man, that is always the easy & best thing to do!
BTW my friend CHI’s window is like this year & next maybe, no future but present as DMDR & Nick are well over 30 they are competing now, which makes paying ZLV good!
Cheap fans filling the stadium while team losing for years smh
Btw the Bulls window is larger than you think. Vucevic is a free agent next year and we can go and replace him with a better ic down the road
Dysfunctional do is a thing I f the past in case you are not following NBAs news
You are out of your mind, you have a top-20/30 player and you want to let him wo.
Meanwhile who’s better than him this year?
Harden, Westbrook and Wall? Flat earther Irving?
Only Beal is comparable and it’s 2 years older so you will have to sign him until 33 and is also similarly injury prone.
Are you garpax?