The Financial Ramifications

Some of my quick cap math (which is notoriously bad, so please take with grain of salt):

**As noted below, this deal actually saves the Bulls some money this year, around $1.5 million. UPDATE: (Not exactly true; turns out Salmons has a trade kicker in his contract, meaning the Bulls have to pay him $2 m. more this year; if the Bulls agreed to that, it makes me think a Hinrich for parts deal is likely, as that would offset some of that kicker this year.)

**If that Hinrich deal doesn't go down, that means the Bulls are looking at $65.4 m. on the books for next year, with only 9 players signed. Assuming the lux tax limit is roughly the same as this year's (and assuming that IT MUST NOT BE BREACHED!), that leaves only $6 m. to spread around a minimum of three (and likely four or five) roster spots). And that means, adios Lil' Ben.

**However, if Hinrich is traded for, say, the expiring deals of Jason Collins and Rashad McCants, that opens up an additional $9.5 million next year. Presume we sign Gordon for something close to 5 years, $50 million (which might be possible given how many teams are taking a bath in this economy), and the Bulls now have nine players at $64.2 million. That would leave them both in better shape financially and as a team on the court. (Unless you think Hinrich is a better player than Gordon, in which case, kindly piss off.)