The Chicago Bulls are still waiting on the Houston Rockets to formally sign restricted free agent center Omer Asik to a three-year, $25.1 million offer sheet loaded with a "poison pill" in the form of a $14.9 million salary for the final year, but management is busy thinking about the future of the frontcourt before they decide to match the forthcoming offer. The biggest concern for Chicago is how the deal would impact their ability to retain Taj Gibson, who is under team control through the 2013-14 season. Under the structure of the Rockets' offer sheet, Asik would be due a huge payment for 2014-15, which would make it nearly impossible for the Bulls to re-sign Gibson without triggering the harsh penalties under the NBA's luxury tax system.
As Bulls consider match on Omer Asik's $25M Houston offer sheet, one major financial concern is rising future price of paying Taj Gibson.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 12, 2012
In the meantime, Gibson is working hard to raise his price and is already eyeing a new set of teeth to buy with that big money he has coming his way in a few years. Isn't that sweet (pun intended)?
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