Jerry Krause has all but assured Daily Herald writer Mike McGraw that the Bulls will remain over the cap this offseason, resisting the temptation of clearing the $5.4M of cap room that would have been available should the team have waived Charles Oakley and Travis Best.  No, Krause is not actively looking to re-sign either player, but instead he is opting to keep the team's $4.7 million and $1.4 million exceptions that are available to all teams over the cap, a position in which the Bulls currently reside.  If a team drops below the cap at any point they lose these exceptions.

"We think the talent on this team is much better than it's been in three or four years," Krause said. "That crying need isn't there. We certainly don't have to go get a starter."

While they will not use cap money this offseason, the Bulls still plan to maximize their plans by orchestrating a sign and trade with Best, who McGraw says will almost certainly find a new team this summer.  Theoretically, the Bulls could get a player in return for the veteran point guard and use the exceptions to sign two or more additional players.

One possibility could be sending Best to Philadelphia for restricted free agent Matt Harpring. The 76ers shipped their backup point guard, Speedy Claxton, to San Antonio on draft night and Best played for Sixers coach Larry Brown in Indiana.

"He has an excellent relationship (with Brown)," King said. "They only have Eric Snow and he's had problems with injuries."

Another possibility for a sign-and-trade could be to Denver for forward James Posey, who is said to be available. The Nuggets recently traded for 37-year-old point guard Mark Jackson and waived Tim Hardaway.