Mike McGraw of the Daily Herald reports that the Chicago Bulls have very little to show for two years of cap room and aggressively pursuing big-name free agents. Tracy McGrady, Eddie Jones and Tim Thomas signed elsewhere. And of the free agents the Bulls did sign, Ron Mercer and Brad Miller have been traded, while Eddie Robinson is hurt again.

McGraw observes that if you forget about who is not wearing a Bulls uniform, a consolation prize can be found. By creating competition for players, the Bulls helped sabotage the payrolls of several Eastern Conference rivals.

Because of the luxury tax, the teams that "stole" free agents from the Bulls are all feeling the financial effects of those big money contracts. Here are some examples of the damage inflicted by the Bulls.

- To counter a generous offer from the Bulls, Milwaukee re-signed Thomas to a six-year, $67 million deal in 2000. Now the second-highest paid player on the Bucks, Thomas should finally become a starter this season after the team sent Glenn Robinson to Atlanta for Toni Kukoc. Thomas' salary helped push Milwaukee's payroll over the predicted luxury tax threshold. As a result, the Bucks are hesitant to match Dallas' offer sheet to Michael Redd. They also made no attempt to re-sign free agents Darvin Ham and Greg Foster.

- Indiana's Austin Croshere was signed to a seven-year, $51 million contract after meeting with the Bulls in the summer of 2000. After trying in vain get Croshere's salary off their books, the Pacers should feel the pinch next summer. That's when Jermaine O'Neal, Reggie Miller, Brad Miller, Ron Artest and Jonathon Bender all become free agents.

- Not only do the Pacers owe Croshere $7.6 million next year, the Bulls also saddled them with Mercer's $6.75 million salary in the Jalen Rose trade. It will be difficult for Indiana to re-sign all of its own free agents without going $10 million or more above the luxury tax threshold.

- Toronto  set out to prove last summer that NBA stars would agree to stay in Canada for the right price. So it was considered a coup when Antonio Davis turned down the Bulls' offer and re-signed with the Raptors for $60 million over five years. The Raptors might like to have that one back. With its payroll so high, Toronto didn't even make a serious offer to restricted free agent Keon Clark, who went to Sacramento. Now that Hakeem Olajuwon has decided to retire, the Raptors could be hurting for an inside presence.

- With their hot pursuit of Jones, the Bulls forced the multiplayer trade that sent Jones from Charlotte to Miami in 2000. The Hornets actually fared better in that deal. But now the Heat is sinking fast and any rebuilding effort will be hampered by Jones' huge contract and owner Micky Arison's fear of the luxury tax.

All of the teams mentioned above reside in the Eastern Conference. So in theory, if the Bulls improve during the next few years, their free-agent blunders of the past might actually help them climb over weakened opponents in the standings.

Imagine that. By not spending their gold, the Bulls may find a silver lining.