It’s been quite the summer for the Chicago Bulls as they head into the 2015-2016 season. It began with another disappointing postseason exit when they were dispatched by their nemesis LeBron James and the eventual Eastern Conference champion Cleveland Cavaliers in May. From there, a whirlwind offseason began. After falling to James in the playoffs for the third time under Tom Thibodeau and failing to make it past the seccond round for the fourth consecutive year – compounded with other issues –
It pays to be patient. That is the financial lesson of the NBA’s offseason, which saw the biggest pay raises go to players who turned down contract extensions and gambled on themselves. Among the top 11 pay increases this summer, five went to players who felt like they were being lowballed by their teams — and proved it when they cashed in with bigger deals as restricted free agents this summer. Chicago’s Jimmy Butler, Orlando’s Tobias Harris, Detroit’s Reggie Jackson, Oklahoma City’s Enes
Butler recorded 20.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game last season. In franchise history, only three other players have reached Butler’s 2014-15 points, rebounds and assist averages in a single season – Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Artis Gilmore. Each of those players was later enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. [Read more…]
WELCOME HOME FRED: The Bulls will open the 2015-16 season with Fred Hoiberg taking the head coaching reigns. He is one of 14 current head coaches to have played in the NBA. Hoiberg, Jeff Hornacek (PHX), Doc Rivers (LAC), Byron Scott (LAL) and Scott Skiles (ORL) are the only coaches who played for the team they currently coach. Playing and Coaching for Current Team Active NBA Coaches Games Played Fred Hoiberg, CHI 247 Jeff Hornacek, PHX 468 Doc Rivers, LAC 59 Byron Scott, LAL
The salary cap rose to $70 million for the 2015-16 season, an increase of 11 percent and nearly $7 million from a year ago, the NBA announced Wednesday night. The cap for next season originally was projected around $67.1 million. Shortly before free agency began, however, CBS Sports reported that the number would be at least $1 million higher and perhaps as much as $2 million higher. In fact, it is $3 million higher, the sort of anecdotal information that will
The top seeds in each conference won at home last night in very different fashion. The Hawks needed a late offensive rebound from Al Horford to edge the Wizards 82-81, while the Warriors cruised to a 20-point victory. [Read more…]
The two series that resume tonight are polar opposites. Points will be much harder to come by in Cleveland than in Houston. [Read more…]
Over a seven-game playoff series, each becomes more important than the last. Today features two teams that can’t afford to lose. [Read more…]