cheap jordans-Bulls' decisions this summer sure have a financial feel to them

General manager Gar Forman stared into the cameras and microphones on NBA draft night and uttered a phrase that Bulls fans have clung to throughout free agency.

"Our decisions this summer will be basketball decisions, not financial decisions," Forman said.

Omer Asik's $5 million salary is on the verge of disappearing in favor of Nazr Mohammed's $1.4 million salary. Kyle Korver's $5 million salary has become Vladimir Radmanovic's minimum deal. Ronnie Brewer walked for nothing, replaced by Jimmy Butler, who is still on his rookie deal and sat out Sunday's summer-league finale because of injury as the Bulls finished 1-5 following a 113-68 pasting by the Bucks.

The Bulls did spend money on Kirk Hinrich to replace C.J. Watson and appear close to signing Marco Bellinelli to augment a bench that also lost John Lucas III. But with the Bulls finally receiving Asik's three-year, $25.1 million offer sheet from the Rockets on Sunday, the writing is on the wall.

In the wake of Derrick Rose's knee injury, the Bulls have made their decisions. Whether they are interpreted as basketball or financial is in the eye of the beholder.

On the one hand, the Bulls will enter luxury-tax territory for the first time in franchise history. But they will do so after letting Asik walk for nothing, an asset Forman repeatedly said he would match any offer for throughout last season.

Plus, the team's biggest star beyond Rose in posting the NBA's best record in back-to-back seasons was its depth, its Bench Mob. That unit, save for Taj Gibson, whose extension is next on the docket, has been dismantled.

Management will say its financial decisions are cloaked in basketball reasons. With Rose out until likely March, next season is a treading-water season. So instead of depth being the secondary star, the Bulls hope to add a legitimate one alongside Rose.

With Hinrich, Belinelli, Radmanovic and Mohammed all signing short-term deals, the plan to clear major salary-cap space in 2014 will remain intact. That's also when Luol Deng's contract expires, Nikola Mirotic could come over from Real Madrid and Carlos Boozer likely will be a victim of the amnesty provision.

But there are no guarantees in free agency, as the 2010 pursuit of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh proved. Plus, the Bulls have sold hope and financial flexibility before — remember when the non-guaranteed deals of Watson and Brewer were billed as trade chips? — and failed to act.

Something to watch closely for whether this makeover is basketball- or financial-based will be if the Bulls cash in the $5 million trade exception acquired in the Korver trade to the Hawks.

If the Bulls sign Hinrich to any portion of the midlevel exception and Belinelli to the biannual exception, their payroll can't exceed $74.3 million. Thus, matching Asik would be impossible.

Jordan Shorts For Cheap-Bulls to receive Asik offer sheet Sunday

The Chicago Bulls are scheduled to receive Omer Asik's three-year, $25.1 million offer sheet from the Houston Rockets at their Vegas Summer League finale on Sunday. But it appears to be a moot point.

While the Rockets are planning to lobby the league for a Tuesday deadline on the Asik decision since attempts to deliver the offer sheet were made on Saturday, the Bulls were finalizing negotiations on veteran center and local product Nazr Mohammed, league sources confirmed. Longtime New York Post NBA columnist Peter Vecsey first reported the imminent signing.

The writing on the wall on the Asik decision developed more clearly over the last couple days. With news that the Bulls planned to use a portion of their midlevel exception to sign Kirk Hinrich and also negotiating a deal with guard Marco Belinello using the biannual exception, the Bulls' payroll would be limited to $74.3 million.

They already have roughly $65 million committed to eight players and need to sign first-round pick Marquis Teague for his rookie scale contract of just over $1 million. If Hinrich signs for $3-4 million and Belinelli signs for $1.9 million, it would be impossible to match Asik's contract and stay under the $74.3 million cap.

Enter Mohammed, a 14-year veteran and product of Kenwood Academy. Vecsey reported Mohammed has notified both the Bulls and Nets, who welcomed him over the weekend, of his decision. He played for the Thunder last season.

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The biggest offseason expenditure entering 2011 was on Adam Podlesh, who became the first punter in franchise history to finish with a net average above 40 yards.

Toub kept plugging new parts in across the board and the Bears wound up finishing third in comprehensive special teams rankings. In 13 of the 22 categories, they were in the top six. They finished first (or tied for first) in six categories: Punt return, opponent gross punt, extra-point percentage, giveaways, points allowed and kick security. They placed second in punt coverage and tied for second in points scored. Football Outsiders, using its ranking system, had the Bears No. 1 in the league for the third time in the last five years.

Recognition came at the end of the season. Cover man Corey Graham received a trip to the Pro Bowl after being snubbed the year before. Later, he cashed in with free agency, getting a two-year contract from the Ravens that maxes out at $4 million.

Toub got some recognition around the NFL as the Dolphins interviewed him for their head-coaching position that eventually went to former Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin.

It's a difficult hurdle for special teams coaches to clear to get into the mix for top jobs but Toub has done it now. The Bears rewarded him with a contract extension that makes him one of the highest-paid special teams coordinators in the NFL and if he continues to find success, perhaps his name will surface in future coaching searches.

A peek ahead: The Bears lost Graham in free agency but replaced him with more signings geared to Toub's unit than in the past. Perhaps it's a reflection of the emphasis new general manager Phil Emery wants to place on the area.

Toub identified linebacker Blake Costanzo and wide receiver Eric Weems as the best free agents available at their respective positions and landed both.

Wide receiver Devin Thomas, if he makes the club, should contribute and Toub already is talking up the possibility of using safety Brandon Hardin, the third-round draft pick from Oregon State.

So, in theory the rich should get richer here as Costanzo will likely remind people of former linebackers Tim Shaw and Brendon Ayanbadejo.

Gould is entering his eighth season and is coming off one of his finest. Smith never used to send him out to attempt field goals of 50 yards or more. That isn't the case anymore. Gould connected on 6-of-6 field goals from 50 yards and beyond, and he's 11-of-13 from that range since 2009. He took full advantage of the new kickoff rules from the 35-yard line and hit touchbacks on 43 of his 81 kickoffs (53.1 percent), ninth in the NFL.

It's hard to set a bar to measure Hester's performance because he's capable of doing almost anything. He scored three touchdowns on returns in 2011 (two punts, one kickoff) and probably would have been a threat to have more if an ankle injury didn't hobble him for the majority of the second half of the season. He will remain the punt returner and be involved on kickoff returns along with Weems. Make no mistake about it though, Hester is the top returner.

Mannelly was cleared to return from his injury in the spring and will be back for a 15th season, passing Hall of Famer Bill George and Doug Buffone for most in franchise history. Fullback Tyler Clutts remains an emergency option.

Linebacker Dom DeCicco made 17 tackles as a rookie, second-most on the team, and he projects to be a major contributor again. Safety Craig Steltz will be a core performer and Toub will look to get production from young defensive backs like cornerbacks Isaiah Frey and Greg McCoy.

cheap air jordans-Toub and Hester give Bears huge plus on special teams

13th in a 14-part series leading up to the start of Bears training camp.

None of Dave Toub's NFL peers were about to take any pity on the Bears special teams coordinator last season.

But you can make a case it was the most challenging year Toub has been through since he became an original member of coach Lovie Smith's staff in 2004. Injuries forced his depth chart to take on a different look almost weekly and he had so much turnover from the year before he was working with a consistent group of undrafted rookies, guys he didn't have much time to work with because of the lockout.

Long snapper Pat Mannelly was lost for the season with a torn ACL in November. That same month linebacker Brian Iwuh, who was leading the unit in tackles, suffered a hamstring pull that sent him to injured reserve and he was waived. Ten players were placed on IR before the season ended and even when non-special teamers are lost, the trickle-down effect quickly reaches Toub's meeting room.

Then there was wide receiver Sam Hurd, signed to help on special teams, who was busted on federal charges of attempting to mastermind a drug distribution network.

But when you have the luxury of the NFL's all-time leader in return touchdowns in Devin Hester and a kicker with a track record for accuracy like Robbie Gould, not to mention a system that produces year-in and year-out, it makes a lot of small problems go away.

The biggest offseason expenditure entering 2011 was on Adam Podlesh, who became the first punter in franchise history to finish with a net average above 40 yards.

Toub kept plugging new parts in across the board and the Bears wound up finishing third in comprehensive special teams rankings. In 13 of the 22 categories, they were in the top six. They finished first (or tied for first) in six categories: Punt return, opponent gross punt, extra-point percentage, giveaways, points allowed and kick security. They placed second in punt coverage and tied for second in points scored. Football Outsiders, using its ranking system, had the Bears No. 1 in the league for the third time in the last five years.

Recognition came at the end of the season. Cover man Corey Graham received a trip to the Pro Bowl after being snubbed the year before. Later, he cashed in with free agency, getting a two-year contract from the Ravens that maxes out at $4 million.

Toub got some recognition around the NFL as the Dolphins interviewed him for their head-coaching position that eventually went to former Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin.

It's a difficult hurdle for special teams coaches to clear to get into the mix for top jobs but Toub has done it now. The Bears rewarded him with a contract extension that makes him one of the highest-paid special teams coordinators in the NFL and if he continues to find success, perhaps his name will surface in future coaching searches.

A peek ahead: The Bears lost Graham in free agency but replaced him with more signings geared to Toub's unit than in the past. Perhaps it's a reflection of the emphasis new general manager Phil Emery wants to place on the area.

Toub identified linebacker Blake Costanzo and wide receiver Eric Weems as the best free agents available at their respective positions and landed both.

Wide receiver Devin Thomas, if he makes the club, should contribute and Toub already is talking up the possibility of using safety Brandon Hardin, the third-round draft pick from Oregon State.

So, in theory the rich should get richer here as Costanzo will likely remind people of former linebackers Tim Shaw and Brendon Ayanbadejo.

Gould is entering his eighth season and is coming off one of his finest. Smith never used to send him out to attempt field goals of 50 yards or more. That isn't the case anymore. Gould connected on 6-of-6 field goals from 50 yards and beyond, and he's 11-of-13 from that range since 2009. He took full advantage of the new kickoff rules from the 35-yard line and hit touchbacks on 43 of his 81 kickoffs (53.1 percent), ninth in the NFL.

It's hard to set a bar to measure Hester's performance because he's capable of doing almost anything. He scored three touchdowns on returns in 2011 (two punts, one kickoff) and probably would have been a threat to have more if an ankle injury didn't hobble him for the majority of the second half of the season. He will remain the punt returner and be involved on kickoff returns along with Weems. Make no mistake about it though, Hester is the top returner.

Mannelly was cleared to return from his injury in the spring and will be back for a 15th season, passing Hall of Famer Bill George and Doug Buffone for most in franchise history. Fullback Tyler Clutts remains an emergency option.

Linebacker Dom DeCicco made 17 tackles as a rookie, second-most on the team, and he projects to be a major contributor again. Safety Craig Steltz will be a core performer and Toub will look to get production from young defensive backs like cornerbacks Isaiah Frey and Greg McCoy.