BLOCKBUSTER: MILLER, SALMONS TO BULLS
The Chicago Bulls acquired center Brad Miller and guard John Salmons from the Sacramento Kings for forwards Andres Nocioni, Drew Gooden, Cedric Simmons and Michael Ruffin.
What does it give the Chicago Bulls
In yet another shakeup, the Bulls bring in two star-caliber veterans to (hopefully) lead their club out of mediocrity. Neither Miller nor Salmons will have his contract expire after this season, so it appears both will be part of a run at the playoffs next season (barring another trade of either of them). First-year head coach Vinny Del Negro has had some run-ins with players, and having more vets in Miller and Salmons can only help him. Miller will likely be the new starting center for Chicago (where he started his career), and Salmons is likely to be a starter at either small forward or shooting guard (meaning either Ben Gordon or Tyrus Thomas will probably eventually head to the bench, since Luol Deng will likely stay a starter at either the 3-or-4-spot).
What does it give the Sacramento Kings
This move seems mostly economically-motivated, as the contracts of both Gooden and Simmons come off the books after this season (as does that of Ike Diogu, who was picked up from Portland for Ruffin in a related deal). So after this season, the only contract of the four the Kings will still have around is Nocioni's, which has four years left after this one but isn't terribly cumbersome. The Kings also have young rising stars in Spencer Hawes and Francisco Garcia to take over Miller's center spot and Salmons' small forward gig (respectively), so this is a nice cap-clearing move by Sacto.
Fantasy impact
