RealGM

Ok this might be adumb question . But say the Bulls want to make a pre - draf ttrade of the # 1 and luol deng + filler for carmelo anthony . Can they do thissince Deng is an restricted free agent ? Or would they have to wait until he signs a new contract to do the deal ?

Free agents are players without contracts.

The CBA says players that have contracts that will expire or could expire (becoming players without contracts) can't be traded.

The fact that Deng will be a free agent makes him ineligible to be traded.

If the two teams wanted to agree upon the trade before the draft, here's what they could do:
Chicago agrees to (but does not sign) a sign-and-trade contract with Deng that meets Denver's approval. Chicago then drafts the player that Denver wants at #1. Then in July, Deng is signed and the trade is consummated.

Dunkenstein wrote:If the two teams wanted to agree upon the trade before the draft, here's what they could do:
Chicago agrees to (but does not sign) a sign-and-trade contract with Deng that meets Denver's approval. Chicago then drafts the player that Denver wants at #1. Then in July, Deng is signed and the trade is consummated.

Right, I missed the last part where he asked does he need to sign a new contract first. His contract would also have an effect on exactly how much "filler" would be needed, I would think the #1 and Deng would be close enough to match Melo's salary if not exceed it.

arenas809 wrote: I would think the #1 and Deng would be close enough to match Melo's salary if not exceed it.

Don't forget that Deng will be a base comp player, so the trade won't be as simple as you make it seem.

This is a complete non-starter unless Deng wants to play in Denver. He has as much say as the Bulls regarding his destination in this sort of a situation.

It goes without saying that all three parties have to agree before the draft to such a deal for it to be accomplished. For me, this is a theoretical discussion to see how such a deal could be done under the rules of the CBA if all the parties agreed to it, regardless of whether we think it would get done in reality.

Dunk- is Deng even allowed to discuss contract terms with Denver? To me thats why this is always a non-starter scenario.

killbuckner wrote:Dunk- is Deng even allowed to discuss contract terms with Denver? To me thats why this is always a non-starter scenario.

Legally no. But it goes on all the time. I'm sure that there are numerous teams and agents who are currently discussing terms for contracts that can't be executed until July. The key is to keep all discussions and any deal that may be reached out of the press until July.