The high dollars and luxury-tax implications are such in James Harden’s case that it wouldn’t totally shock the world if the parties reach November without a deal … but no deal in Gibson’s case would expose the Bulls to the same conditions that made it possible for Houston to pilfer Omer Asik in restricted free agency this past July. Which is something Chicago really can’t afford. Extending Gibson now and cutting ties with Carlos Boozer later via the amnesty clause, sources say, is still the most likely outcome here.

via Marc Stein of ESPN