Two years ago, the team was one starting power forward short of being very good.  A genuine starter could have gotten this team through perhaps two playoff rounds.  That was a very good three-guard rotation and Salmons  was a real asset.   Thomas was a backup but could be effective in spurts.

Instead, the Bulls gave away Gordon, Hinrich, Tyrus and Salmons for NOTHING in order to save money, I mean clear cap space.  Did anybody really think any of those top free agents was going to sign with these bad actors?

So now we have replaced those four with Boozer and two second team guards leaving no depth at small forward.  We now have a starting power forward and unaddressed needs elsewhere.

It makes monetary sense but it's really pathetic.

The real "problem with the NBA" is that it is leaving the Bulls standing at the station! 

"Last week's big-man trade of Tyson Chandler for Emeka Okafor might have seemed random when it came to the players involved.

But the deal was built around salaries.

Chandler has two more years and $24.6 million left on the contract he originally signed with the Bulls in 2005.

Okafor has five years and $62.7 million remaining, which means Charlotte shaved nearly $40 million in future salary commitments by making the deal with New Orleans.

The Hornets, meanwhile, trimmed a few million off next year's luxury-tax bill, since Okafor will make less this season. So each side saved money in some way.

For more:

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=311098