The untouchable Luol Deng.

[Puertorique]

We have heard Pax say that Deng is untouchable etc... and many people on the board beleive that he means that Deng is the centre piece to the Bulls future. Which may be what Paxson means.

But do you think there is a posiblity that the Bulls mean that Deng is untouchable in the sense that the team see's him as the perfect second option not necessarily the main man.

Example if the Bulls were to include him into any of the deals that were rumored for let's say Kobe, Pau, KG etc... the Bulls would have had that great player but with no true or consistent 2nd option on the team. I think that is what the mngmt means when they say that they would like to keep him.

They may think it would be easier to replace the rest of the role players then it would be to replace a player like Deng who could compliment many Main Man players.

That's just a thought though.

[DanTown8587]

Look, no one on the Bulls should be untouchable, even with regards to Kobe. But when you look at, he never was coming here because when Phoenix offered Marion-Barbosa-Atl #1 for Kobe, that was by far the best deal and the Bulls would have been unable to match it.

[Puertorique]

Look, no one on the Bulls should be untouchable, even with regards to Kobe. But when you look at, he never was coming here because when Phoenix offered Marion-Barbosa-Atl #1 for Kobe, that was by far the best deal and the Bulls would have been unable to match it.

I agree. The way the team is playing untouchable is something that should not be thrown around. I was trying to just point out why the management may have been hesitant to make a move that included Deng. They may think that if they get a superstar they would need a player along the lines of Deng to take the pressure off of that other Superstar and pair with them. How much better would this team be if they got KG but had to give up Deng, Hinrich, Thomas and Noah. That would leave the team with Wallace,KG,Chapu, Gordon, Duhon. That's not a lineup that makes teams shiver in fear.

[Tommy Udo 6]

Did Paxson actually say "Deng is untouchable"???

I dont remember it. Many posters here say that, but I dont remember the official word from the GM.

That would have been a stupid thing to say publically because Deng would then demand a max contract.

If he actually did say it, I'm sure he has since changed his mind due to Deng's salary stance, poor performances, and recent injury issues

[Beryl 96]

IMO, Gordon would make a better 2nd option.

On another note, what you say could be true as far as Pax's view of him as our future 2nd man, but, everything Pax has done and said says otherwise, we're hyping him up the most, trying to groom him the most, whereas we have an arguably better player on the team who wants it more and works harder that gets neglected, and a young guy who could become a complete monster also getting neglected.

my dream scenario for Deng is that Pax hypes him up so much hoping to use him in a deal to get us a star for BG to play alongside with.

And before I get gutted, Deng is really our only player that might have worthy value around the league, he can fetch us the most, while possibly not being the best we have to offer. I think his potential has been over-estimated, or atleast he won't fulfil to its fullest, which is something I've believed since probably half way through his second season, and if we plan on moving him, it should be done before teams come to that realization.

[DanTown8587]

Gordon is a terrible second option, he cant create, cant play defense and really is not that great a scorer. He would not be a first or second option on many teams.

[JimmyJammer]

Gordon is a terrible second option, he cant create, cant play defense and really is not that great a scorer. He would not be a first or second option on many teams.

You have it wrong pal, Gordon is the only player on this team who can beat his man off the dribble. He has not been creating for others, but it is not his role on this team. Luol, on the other hand, is a poor shot creator, he has a deadly mid-range jumpshot and he moves well off the ball.

[Hoops23]

Are Gordon and Deng going to resign a max contract this summer? I heard their asking for a max contract before the season starts.

[musiqsoulchild]

Gordon is a terrible second option, he cant create, cant play defense and really is not that great a scorer. He would not be a first or second option on many teams.

This is inaccurate.

[molepharmer]

I agree with Bulls6. I don't remember Pax ever saying Deng is untouchable.

And if Pax sees Deng as the best building block it's probably because Luol is one of the few Bulls who has shown glimpses of being able to expand his offensive repertoire. LD can still become more efficient in the low post, at the three pt arc and at getting to the free throw line.

But Deng will never be the center piece until he decides to be more of a leader and become more productive in the 4thQ when the game is on the line.

[dougthonus]

Deng is the most valuable guy on the Bulls. I believe what we would require back in trade for him is greater than any team will give up. Thus making him untouchable for all intents and purposes.

[Red Larrivee]

I still like it as his nick name.

[girlygirl]

None of the Bulls are, or should be, untouchable. And Paxson knows that -- but since he put this team together and, ntil this season, had seen the young guys make steady progress, he seems overly reluctant to move any of them, not just the three main guys (Deng, Gordon, Hinrich), but anyone at all. I don't know how to sort out wild rumors from fact, so it's possible that he has't gooten viable trade offers from other teams -- maybe he's only heard stuff like what gets posted on these boards -- that is, "we'll trade you our mediocre/average/"having an off season" players with big contracts for your promising young guys/really good players with expiring/reasonable contracts".

None of the Bulls would be a first scoring option on most other teams. Gordon and Deng are second or third options at best, while Hinrich and Nocioni would be a third or fourth option and the young guys would all be no better than fourth or fifth options at this point of their development. Deng doesn't appear to really want to be "the man" -- he seems more comfortable as the second or third option/sidekick. Gordon has much more the mentality to be "the man", but his size, streaky shooting, and lack of a pure playmaker's mentality work against him in fulfilling that role. Hinrich plays best when he's the third or fourth option and doesn't think he has to do too much as a scorer. When he thinks he has to look to score himself most every time down the floor, that's when he starts taking quick shots and/or starts dribbling around in circles.

Luol probably has more value around the league than Gordon or Hinrich because: a) he's younger; b) he's bigger; and c) his projected ceiling is higher. But like BG and Hinrich, Luol isn't going to bring the Bulls back a superstar, or even a star, in a 1-for-1 deal. He would need to be in a package deal t bring Chicago back someone who is a markedly better option for the team that Deng himself.

[mildsauce04]

I doubt Pax would say Deng is untouchable. Seems like everyone on the team could go in the right deal. Problem now is that Deng hasn't improved much over last year, and nobody is hyping him up anywhere near as high as they were over the off-season. I'm sure plenty of teams would still love to have him, but who could you get back now? Also, Deng would be a great second option for any team (including this one) - I think the right way to build this team is find a star free-agent (who isn't an undersized center who shoots 30% from the floor) and pair him with Deng. Not sure what free agents are coming up/what the cap situation is, but that would be ideal.

[SensiBull]

Are Gordon and Deng going to resign a max contract this summer? I heard their asking for a max contract before the season starts.

You heard?

Link, please.

[kyrv]

We have heard Pax say that Deng is untouchable etc... .

We have heard Pax say that NOBODY is untouchable. When did he say Deng was untouchable?