It may take one more year, but it appears that Krause may be ready to put the finishing touches on this rebuilt ballclub by next summer. According to the Daily Herald:
Barring some unlikely trades, the Bulls will not have much cap room next year and most likely will only have the mid-level exception to offer free agents.
One name that stands out is Juwan Howard. He should have plenty of money in the bank after finishing out his $105 million deal in Denver this season.
It's easy to imagine Howard accepting the $4.5 million exception next summer from the Bulls, considering he could return to his hometown, join an up-and-coming team and reunite with Rose, his close friend and former Michigan teammate.
The Bulls are still expected to pursue a small forward through free agency this summer. Philadelphia's Matt Harpring, now an unrestricted free agent, remains a target, while Seattle's Rashard Lewis is a longshot. Krause may also be holding out hope that Marcus Fizer can be traded for Orlando's Mike Miller.
If Krause is able to add Harpring this season and Juwan Howard next season, two moves that make perfect sense, the Bulls should be ready to make a serious playoff run in 03/04. All that would remain would be a final resolution on the Chicago futures of Crawford, Fizer and Bagaric. The Bulls have to decide if they're going to pick up all three players' options for next season. Chances are that they will, although the possibility remains high that any or all of the three may be traded between now and next February's trade deadline. Juwan and Jalen are close friends. While I'm sure that the Bulls would never engage in any form of tampering (tisk, tisk), what do you want to bet Jalen already knows where Juwan would like to play in 2003?
Barring some unlikely trades, the Bulls will not have much cap room next year and most likely will only have the mid-level exception to offer free agents.
One name that stands out is Juwan Howard. He should have plenty of money in the bank after finishing out his $105 million deal in Denver this season.
It's easy to imagine Howard accepting the $4.5 million exception next summer from the Bulls, considering he could return to his hometown, join an up-and-coming team and reunite with Rose, his close friend and former Michigan teammate.
The Bulls are still expected to pursue a small forward through free agency this summer. Philadelphia's Matt Harpring, now an unrestricted free agent, remains a target, while Seattle's Rashard Lewis is a longshot. Krause may also be holding out hope that Marcus Fizer can be traded for Orlando's Mike Miller.
If Krause is able to add Harpring this season and Juwan Howard next season, two moves that make perfect sense, the Bulls should be ready to make a serious playoff run in 03/04. All that would remain would be a final resolution on the Chicago futures of Crawford, Fizer and Bagaric. The Bulls have to decide if they're going to pick up all three players' options for next season. Chances are that they will, although the possibility remains high that any or all of the three may be traded between now and next February's trade deadline. Juwan and Jalen are close friends. While I'm sure that the Bulls would never engage in any form of tampering (tisk, tisk), what do you want to bet Jalen already knows where Juwan would like to play in 2003?
