From Bust to Asset: The Cristiano Felicio Story
I have some good news…and it’s about Big Cris.
The Chicago Bulls signed Cristiano Felicio to a four-year contract worth $32 million on July 6th, 2017. Whatever pride or happiness the front office felt when they signed that contract vanished as Felicio went on to become the Bulls 12th man, coming in for garbage time only or reluctantly being thrown in the rotation due to injuries. The potential he showed the Bulls front office was non-existent as he seemed to become less motivated and definitely, way less effective.
Felicio became a running joke among Bulls Nation, with so many unrealistic trade ideas to get rid of him. For so many years, the idea of a team trading for Felicio was unrealistic. But Felicio now has a lone year remaining on his contract and with teams setting up for a big 2021 free-agent class, his contract has finally turned from a bust to an asset.
As an expiring contract, Felicio now has value to teams looking to be major players in the 2021 free-agent class, when players like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kawhi Leonard could be available. As an expiring contract, a team can trade for Felicio without fear of him being on books in 2021. They could also free up additional money by trading away guaranteed salary in 2021 for Felicio’s expiring contract. Alternately, a team fearing the luxury tax in 2021 can do the same by trading a guaranteed 2021 salary for Felicio. In years prior, this was not the case. Felicio’s contract was clear as day a negative value. Now, not so much. Felicio’s contract alone will allow the Bulls to take up to $12.5 million in salary next season. It’s quite possible the Bulls can fill a need with Felicio’s contract plus additional asset(s).
Now obviously, Felicio isn’t the only expiring contract in the NBA next season, so it must be understood his value is still limited. A player like Cody Zeller is also an expiring contract and at the same time brings much more value than Felicio. And again, there are a lot of examples of players of the Zeller ilk, so don’t get too excited. But what we do know is Felicio, perhaps for the first time in his career, has some sort of positive trade value to other teams. That alone is some cause for celebration.
From bust to asset, the Cris Felicio story.
