Bulls Cut Kyrylo Fesenko
The Bulls have waived center Kyrylo Fesenko, the team announced. His subtraction brings the roster to 15 players. The move was expected, since the Bulls, who are under a $74.307 hard cap this season, couldn't afford to keep him for opening night without getting rid of one of their guaranteed deals. They'll be eligible to re-sign him on November 19th, as Mark Deeks of ShamSports points out on Twitter, when the veteran's minimum-salary will pro-rate down to a figure the Bulls can manage.
The 7'1" Fesenko was signed on the eve of training camp to a minimum-salary make-good deal without a guarantee. He spent the final month of last season with the Pacers but appeared in only three regular season games, scoring eight points in 17 minutes. He didn't get into any of Indiana's playoff games, though he saw extensive postseason action in 2010, in the middle of his four-season tenure with the Jazz.
Once he clears waivers, Fesenko will be free to sign with any team, so there's no certainty that he'll be back with the Bulls this season. Marko Jaric and Ryan Allen remain with the Bulls on non-guaranteed deals, but they seem destined for the same fate as Fesenko.
Taj Gibson Hopes To Retire As A Bull
Taj Gibson is entering the final year of his rookie contract and could become a restricted free agent next summer, but it doesn't sound as if he's overly eager to explore his options on the open market. According to Nick Friedell of ESPNChicago.com (via Twitter), Gibson has said he'd like to spend the rest of his career with the Bulls, and is "hopeful" that the two sides will work out a contract extension this month.
We've heard plenty of updates this month on Gibson's contract situation, with most reports suggesting that the big man is likely to land a new deal with Chicago before the October 31st deadline. Yesterday, ESPN.com's Marc Stein reported that he expected the Bulls and Gibson to agree on an extension, with Carlos Boozer likely being amnestied down the road.
When Ryan Raroque of Hoops Rumors examined Gibson's case for an extension, he suggested that a deal worth about $6MM annually could work for both sides. If the Bulls could lock up the 27-year-old for three or four years at that price, it'd be a coup for the team. I wouldn't be surprised if Gibson landed a slightly bigger payday, perhaps in the neighborhood of $30MM overall.
Stein On Extension Candidates, Boozer, Paul
Earlier this week, TNT's David Aldridge shared the latest rumors and rumblings he'd heard about this year's fourth-year extension candidates. ESPN.com's Marc Stein follows suit today, and while much of what he's hearing is along the same lines as Aldridge's updates, there's still enough new info that it's worth rounding up the highlights….
- Despite chairman Jerry Reinsdorf's apparent aversion to early extensions, it's still likely that the Bulls and Taj Gibson work something out this month, and that the team will eventually release Carlos Boozer using the amensty clause.
- An extension for Ty Lawson remains more a question of "when" than "if," sources tells Stein.
- The Raptors seem to "want to be wowed" by DeMar DeRozan in the 2012/13 season before committing to him long-term.
- The Bobcats aren't expected to lock Gerald Henderson up to an extension unless the terms are very team-friendly.
- Although the Hawks like Jeff Teague, they'll likely hold off on committing future cap space to a point guard until they're 100% sure they can't lure Chris Paul to Atlanta.
- Extensions for Darren Collison and Rodrigue Beaubois can safely be ruled out as the Mavericks attempt to preserve next summer's cap room.
- Stein also believes Stephen Curry and James Harden are likely to be extended, and that a new deal for Jrue Holiday is possible. However, he classifies the rest of this offseason's extension candidates as unlikely to receive long-term contracts by Halloween.
Bulls Notes: Hinrich, Gibson, Belinelli, Radmanovic
The Bulls have made a pair of camp cuts so far, waiving both Andre Emmett and Vance Cooksey, but a few more moves are still to come. Even with two roster spots available, Kyrylo Fesenko, Marko Jaric, and Ryan Allen are long shots to make the club, considering the Bulls are only about $758K from their hard cap for the season. Here are the latest links out of Chicago:
- Before Kirk Hinrich signed with the Bulls, former Chicago coach Scott Skiles tried to lure him to the Bucks, according to Charles F. Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "He and I talked at length about it a couple times," Skiles said. "But you know, we weren't dangling a starting job. With Derrick [Rose] out, it's kind of Kirk's show right now. And obviously he lives here (in the Chicago area). There were some things that were against us a little bit. But I do know he struggled over it. When he called and told me what he had decided, I totally understood."
- As Taj Gibson attempts to grow as a player, he's not letting himself be distracted by contract issues, writes Sam Smith of Bulls.com.
- New Bulls additions Marco Belinelli and Vladimir Radmanovic are still adjusting to coach Tom Thibodeau's system, says Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times.
Bulls Waive Andre Emmett
The Bulls have officially waived Andre Emmett, the team announced today in a press release. Emmett is the second camp invitee released by the Bulls, along with Vance Cooksey, who was let go early in the month. The team's roster now stands at 16 players.
Emmett, a second-round pick in 2004, went seven seasons between NBA games, appearing in eight contests in 2004/05 and then not seeing his next NBA action until 2011/12 with the Nets. He appeared in a pair of preseason games for the Bulls this month, but didn't see much playing time, averaging just 1.5 PPG and 1.5 RPG in 3.8 MPG.
If the Bulls want to keep any of their camp invitees on the roster once the regular season gets underway, they'll need to either trade one of their 12 guaranteed contracts or release Nate Robinson, whose deal is partially guaranteed. Because the Bulls are up against a hard cap, Kyrylo Fesenko, Marko Jaric, and Ryan Allen are all facing uphill battles to make the team.
Aldridge On Extension Candidates
The latest Morning Tip piece from TNT's David Aldridge is up at NBA.com, and focuses on the first round of the 2009 draft class, most of whom are eligible for contract extensions this month. However, Aldridge doesn't expect many new deals to be inked, since the new CBA doesn't give players a ton of incentive to sign early.
"Now (that) you can only give the same amount of years that they can get next summer, the player isn't as interested," one team executive told Aldridge. "Now, you have no advantage. I used to be able to say 'I can give you a year more today than you can get next year. So let's talk about a deal and maybe the number is more realistic.' But they've taken that away."
Here's what Aldridge has heard on a number of extension candidates:
- The Kings will "probably not" be offering Tyreke Evans an extension, Aldridge hears from a source.
- Things are "pretty quiet" on the Brandon Jennings front, and Aldridge isn't expecting him to work out a long-term extension with the Bucks.
- DeMar DeRozan and the Raptors aren't close to a deal, but have been talking for weeks. Aldridge cautions not to rule out the possibility of the two sides reaching an agreement.
- Aldridge does, however, essentially rule out extensions for Austin Daye (Pistons) and James Johnson (Kings).
- Jrue Holiday's agent will touch base with the 76ers later this week about a possible extension.
- Ty Lawson of the Nuggets is the one player that everyone around the league believes will sign a long-term deal by Halloween.
- The Hawks are talking to Jeff Teague about a new deal, but Aldridge thinks it's unlikely the team commits to anything yet when it could have so much cap space available next summer.
- Agent Mark Bartelstein on Taj Gibson and the Bulls: "They've made it clear they'd like to sign Taj. They're making an effort, and so are we… if we can get something done that everybody feels good about, great. If not, I'm sure he'll have a great year."
Eastern Notes: Bobcats, Drummond, Hinrich
- Rick Bonnell of CharlotteObserver.com talks about the improvements that the Bobcats are looking to make on offense following a season which saw them last in the league in field goal percentage, three point shooting percentage, and points per game.
- Stephen Brotherston of HoopsWorld examines the opportunity for Pistons rookie Andre Drummond to earn a significant role in Lawrence Frank's rotation.
- Kirk Hinrich appears to be fitting in well with new Bulls teammates and coach Tom Thibodeau, writes Nick Friedell of ESPN Chicago.
- Mike Wells of IndyStar.com looks at Miles Plumlee's struggles to become comfortable on the court, a problem that Pacers coach Frank Vogel believes can only be cured with time and experience.
- Based on John Henson's four block performance against the Pistons on Saturday, Charles F. Gardner of the Journal Sentinel writes that the Bucks may have found a player who can significantly improve their rim protection, which had been one of the team's glaring weaknesses last season.
Odds & Ends: Hinrich, Williams, Heat, Hansbrough
While some have said that Kirk Hinrich has lost a step, the guard says that he is as healthy as he has been in years. That could make all the difference this season for the Bulls, who need as much as they can get out of the backcourt while Derrick Rose rehabs his knee injury, writes Joel Brigham of HoopsWorld. The point guard has spent the last few years with the Hawks and Wizards while battling injuries and was brought back to be a stabilizing force in Chicago. Hinrich, who is set to earn $8MM over the next two seasons, may not be the player he was five years ago, but could still prove to a strong pickup for the Bulls. Here's more from around the league..
- Atlanta native Lou Williams says that he always envisioned himself playing for his hometown team, writes Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Williams said that there were "three or four teams" in heavy pursuit of him this summer, but he quickly gave the edge to the Hawks once it became clear that they would offer him a fair deal.
- In today's Q-and-A column, a reader asks Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel if the Heat would be better off with a traditional point guard such as Jose Calderon over Mario Chalmers. Winderman doesn't agree, arguing that a typical one-guard isn't needed when LeBron James and Dwyane Wade like to handle the ball as much as they do.
- Undrafted rookie Ben Hansbrough has an uphill battle as he looks to make the Pacers roster, but he is certainly giving the front office something to think about, writes Mark Montieth of Pacers.com. Hansbrough is trying to hook on as a one-guard behind two true point guards in George Hill and D.J. Augustin and combo guard Lance Stephenson.
- Justin Holiday will also have a tough time making the final 15 with the Trail Blazers, but the forward has never been afraid of working hard to reach his goal, writes Wendell Maxey of Ridiculous Upside.
Eastern Notes: Sixers, Heat, Mullens, Ewing
As we await an evening preseason schedule that includes a pair of contests between Eastern teams (Pistons/Raptors and Bulls/Cavaliers), let's round up the latest links out of the Eastern Conference….
- Jrue Holiday, who is eligible for a contract extension this month, tells Yannis Koutroupis of HoopsWorld that he thinks the 76ers are on the "right path" to title contention.
- The Heat haven't been involved in trade deadline deals in recent years, and Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel isn't expecting that to change this season. Winderman also addresses the Heat's two open roster spots in his latest mailbag.
- Byron Mullens is entering the final season of his rookie contract, and Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer believes he's exceeded expectations more than anyone else in Bobcats camp so far (Twitter link).
- At a Madison Square Garden promotion, Patrick Ewing told Mark Cannizzaro of the New York Post that he's still hoping to coach an NBA team, whether it's the Knicks or another club, despite not being hired this offseason. "I’m just home, hanging out," Ewing said. "I do have coaching [aspirations], but all the jobs are taken up right now. So I’m just hanging out, relaxing and taking some time off and will try to come back next year."
- Sam Smith fields a number of Bulls-related questions in his newest mailbag at Bulls.com.
Central Rumors: Bucks, Leuer, Irving, Bulls
The Cavaliers made a pair of cuts today, letting go of Kevin Anderson and Justin Holiday, both of whom were on non-guaranteed deals. They'll be the first of many players to go from Central Division teams this month, as all five clubs are currently over the 15-man regular season roster limit. Here's more from around the Central.
- The Bucks are counting on several of their offseason additions to improve their ability to protect the basket, as Charles F. Gardner of the Journal Sentinel writes.
- Bucks GM John Hammond acquired shot blocker Samuel Dalembert in an offseason trade, but told the Journal Sentinel he wished it hadn't been necessary to part with Jon Leuer to make the deal work financially, as Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal notes. The Rockets wound up waiving Leuer after the swap, and the Cavs successfully claimed him, bringing to an end a whirlwind of movement that's left Cavs coach Byron Scott trying to rebuild Leuer's confidence, Lloyd reports.
- Fourth overall pick Dion Waiters is off to a slow start for the Cavs, as Mary Schmitt Boyer of the Plain Dealer points out.
- As a 1-for-21 shooting performance in the fourth quarter of Tuesday's preseason game showed, the Bulls bench is not what it used to be after a summer of moves that depleted the team's depth, observes Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times.