It’s official: The Bulls and Jannero Pargo have agreed to a one-year deal worth $2 million.
This is a nice pickup for the Bulls. Pargo is a solid backup guard who proved in New Orleans that he can come in off the bench and be a valuable contributor. He’s also a Chicago native who played for the Bulls from 2003-2006. Go here for the scouting report on Pargo.
Pargo’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, said: “I think he’ll pick up where he left off in New Orleans when he was one of the top sixth men in the league. I think he could have done better (financially) if he waited a little bit longer, but he didn’t want to lose the opportunity with the Bulls. We just thought it was a good fit.”
Don’t you just love NBA player agents? It’s like they all went to school at Used Car Salesman University. I’m not sure Pargo could have earned much more than that, particularly considering the upcoming Salary Cap Apocalypse.
As I pointed out yesterday, the Bulls had only about $2.4 million to play with before reaching the luxury tax threshold. So unless Gar Forman works out a trade for Carlos Boozer— which, frankly, seems pretty unlikely — this will probably be the last significant move the team makes during the offseason.
But by limiting Pargo to a one-year deal, the Bulls will still have financial flexibility next summer even if the salary cap drops again. As of now, the Bulls should have only seven players under contract for 2010-11: Derrick Rose, Luol Deng, Kirk Hinrich, John Salmons, Joakim Noah, James Johnson and Taj Gibson. The combined total of those deals will be about $38.6 million. If the cap is in the $50-ish million range, the team will have $12 million or so to sign someone from the Summer of 2010 Free Agent Class.
I know the team hasn’t made The Leap this summer. We lost Ben Gordon and we didn’t acquire a big-name player. But, assuming Luol Deng is healthy next season, the Bulls should be at least solid (if not spectacular) at every position with a handful of capable backups to spell the starters. And, thanks to intelligent cap management, we will be in the running for a major upgrade one year from now. All in all, not bad. Not great…but not bad.
Yeah, but we are wagering an awfull lot on “maybe” landing a superstar next year. (I just had a painful flashback of Tracy McGrady and Jemaine O’Neal playing in Chicago Bulls uni’s. …Not!) The paranoid side of me likes Joe Dumar’s method of passing on 2010 and gobbling up quality players this year. However, Chicago did land Jay Cutler this year; could lightning strike twice?
Well one other thing to keep in mind is that maybe, just maybe, Thomas and Noah continue to grow. Pargo will be a nice 6/7th man and he will be the scoring guard for the 2nd string.
This is a nice move, it’s not Iverson, but Pargo is just a much better fit.
As for 2010 it’s going to be interesting to see what happens (there may be some trades before the deadline that sort out 1 or 2 players from that class.)
weather its now , or next year the bulls need to speak-up to there fans and let them know the whole frame work of there plans based on the facts of who will be not only available but how they plan on getting them if the cap is lowered again not sure how that plays into there hands but this jerome james should be dealt away if not just plain let go to make space not only on the team but the salery cap we need to make the bulls strong now so that they will not only be good but also be attrachtive to a superstar of next years free agency lets not meaning (bulls) Just sit on yr hands now and say wait until next year if there is something you can do this year to make the team alot better why not give Iverson a chance on the team would be great to see him in a bulls uniform and on the court the great MJ played on also him and Rose would be an awesome two punch I think and he would be mentored on the Job by AI wake up the ball is in yr court now do not wait till buzzer has blown and there is no time left do it now make a move get stronger get better try to win today but do not put yrself in a position to miss out next year having cap space is good but that does not make a superstar want to come to yr team if yr not winning we must have both therefor we must win this year and not just a few games I hope deng has big year but also the rookies that just came must contribute especially the #16 pic over all he is getting paid nice money and for that reason either he is a contributor or he is trade bait either way paxton and gar hope yr listening our town doe not want to lose anymore tirde of that we are winners here as are you bring us back the title to chi townbring us back the glory to chi town if not then I hope jerry does mikes been gone a while now and not coming back we need a hero not a zero I can not feel good and just say lets wait and see what happens in 2009 have to make it happen ( Peace ) cya on the court
LOL reggie, do you know what sentnces are
Remember good or bad Chicago is always an attractive offer for any superstar player. Market number 3 means much more exposure. Players and teams know this. That is why the Bulls can sit and wait for next year.
I say we trade luol deng for a veteran power forward…put salmons at the 3…tyrus at the 4 and noah at the 5 with rose playing point
All things considered, I like where the Bulls are right now. I think this team can make some noise in the playoffs, and if they can keep their heads above .500 and at least be exciting to watch, that’s enough this year. Next year when some contracts come off the books the Bulls can swing for the fences in free agency, but for now, they’ve done all they can, really. And it’s nice to at least have a decision made on BG and Kirk. Now we just sit back and watch how well these guys play together- I think they will turn some heads this season.
We need Kirk. I’ll miss Thomas but we need Captain Kirk. The team takes on a new identity when he enters the game.
A MISTAKE NOT TO SIGN BEN… AND TO LET HIM GO TO DETROIT OF ALL PLACES.. NOW I WOULD RATHER HAVE THOMAS THAN BOOZER.. THOMAS WONT BE 23 UNTIL AUGUST.. AND BOOZER IS STARTING TO BREAK DOWN ALREADY..I REMEMBER YELLING AT THE TV ON DRAFT DAY WHRN THE BULLS TOOK ROGER MASON IN FRONT OF BOOZER WHO DROPPED INTO THE SECOND ROUND… CAN I ADD THAT I WAS SO DISAPOINTED THAT THE BULLS DID NOT SIGN DOUG COLLINS INSTEAD OF VINNIE..THIS IS MORE INTERFERENCE FROM THE WORST OWNER IN THE NBA …..
This website http://hoopshype.com/salaries/chicago.htm claims that the Bulls will only have 28 million in salary commitments for 2010. Am I reading something wrong?
The Bulls did a great job so far by signing Jannero Pargo as a backup to Salmon at the SG position. Now I hope that the Bulls don’t trade for Carlos Boozer (because of his injuries) and trade Kirk Hinrich to the Portland Blazers (Hinrich is a great player and a leader). I don’t mine them dealing for Ty Thomas, Tim Thomas and J James for a better PF like David Lee for now until the 2010 free-agent are available. (Bosh or Wade)
Pargo is an excellent choice. He never got the minutes he deserved because he wasn’t in Hinrich’s pay grade. Early in his first season as a ten day contract player Pargo scored 33 points and tied Jordan’s record for threes in the United Center; in three quarters after Hinrich got into foul trouble; after that, Pargo didn’t see the floor until the playoffs.