Chandler is a free agent, so the Bulls really can't stop him from going anywhere. They can, however, decide that he's a critical part of their new resurgence and offer him a big long-term contract that he can't refuse.
That goes for almost every big name free agent this summer- they're all parts of young teams on the upswing of rebuilding movements, each of them with the potential to turn into an elite team in 2-4 years. (see: wizards, bulls, cavs, even the clippers to some extent) That means those teams will heavily bid for their guys to re-sign, making it hell on a team like the Kings trying to reload an avoid a rebuilding phase. With all the uncertainty in Sactown, it's not going to be a prime spot for free agents to land, at least for one offseason, so I'm going to have to say our best bet is through the trade route.
One thing to consider- this team has been built entirely through the draft and trades, NOT signing big free agents. FAs coming off big seasons always get overpaid, and frequently don't deliver the glory they were supposed to bring with them. Look at the way our team has been built:
Bibby, via trade for J-Will, who arrived through the draft.
K9, Nasty, Skinner, traded for C-Webb, aquired through trades.
Peja, drafted
Miller: traded from Indiana for Hedo and Pollard.
Mobley: trade from Orlando for Doug Christie. Christie did arrive in Sac as a free agent, although he was not exactly the big free agent catch that people think we should go after.
There are always more teams willing to trade talent than talent willing to bargain on a decent contract. For a team like the Kings without a lot of cap room, the choice is either gamble on a free agent who might not pan out or make a trade for more proven talent. Guys like Chandler are pretty much out of the question to ink a contract with the Kings. I like the idea of the Artest trade, or any trade to give us some defense and intensity, but definetely not overspending on a big name free agent.
