ESPN: Bulls "determined" to NOT trade Deng

[Red Larrivee]

Despite a season that has been wrecked by injuries, the Chicago Bulls are determined not to trade impending free agent forward Luol Deng, sources told ESPN.com.

Teams have been inquiring about Deng's availability recently as the Bulls have sunk in the standings following a knee injury that ended Derrick Rose's season.

This week, Deng told the Chicago Sun-Times he was preparing for the possibility he may be traded.

But sources said that is not in the team's plans. Despite failing to come to terms on a contract extension before the season, the Bulls remain optimistic they will be able to re-sign Deng next summer.

http://espn.go.com/chicago/nba/story/_/ ... -luol-deng

[gstephanopulos]

Either FO is stubborn or they trying to build up Deng value.

[P.C.]

Like it or not, the front office has given every indication that they want to keep this team together. Following the Rose injury, the franchise's only move has been to acquire talent (DJ Augustin) not let it go. And think what you want about Augustin, good or bad, most likely bad, he's a huge upgrade over Teague and James. Huge. You don't acquire talent when you're trying to tank.

The Bulls are going to re-sign Deng provided they don't luck into a top draft pick who plays the 3, a Wiggins or Parker type. They seemingly are prepared to offer him a five year contract, which is one more year than other teams can offer.

[Magilla_Gorilla]

Wut da fuct?


Local guys have said the Bulls are listening to offers for Deng.



Does the Bulls front office now believe that the tank is so effective they won't need to trade Deng? Next years lineup could include Rose, Deng, Mirotic, Noah, and a top 5 pick.

Know this though - if the Bulls don't tank, and don't end up with a stud through the draft, they've pretty much eliminated any chance of aquiring that second star. No cap space, no top draft pick, and a bunch of slightly overpaid middle class players.

Deng at 14 million per puts the salary for next year as such (assuming Boozer is amnestied)

Rose 18.8
Deng 14
Noah 12.2
Gibson 8
Mirotic 6
Top 5 pick 4
MDJ 3.3
Butler 2
Snell 1.4
Teague 1.1

Total 70.8 million

[Saphir]

[DuckIII]

Could just be leverage for trade talks. But if true you have to sign him. There is no in between here.

[cubbiefan009]

The ONLY way he should not be traded is if they are more than confident they can re-sign him to a fair deal. I want Deng back, but you can't overpay him and risk losing him for nothing as well. Start extension talks again at the All-Star break.

[jc23]

Thats what they want us and the rest of the league to think......................................I hope.

Unless they are sure Lu will take a crazy hometown discount even Khan would know that now is the time to trade Lu.

[Magilla_Gorilla]

Could just be leverage for trade talks. But if true you have to sign him. There is no in between here.

Agreed. Letting Deng walk for nothing would be devastating.

[6_Rings]

[xpmar9x]

I'm assuming they're attempting to build up his value. Who knows though?

[fleet]

God this team is stupid.

[Red Larrivee]

Could just be leverage for trade talks. But if true you have to sign him. There is no in between here.

If Cowley is right that they're "$5-6M apart" I don't understand how they expect to re-sign him.

All it takes is Mark Cuban landing his jet in Chicago with a 4/60 contract and Deng is outie. It just seems like a dumb chance to take, especially if there's interest from several teams. There could be a scenario where Deng is the best player available at the trade deadline. Why not take advantage of that?

[P.C.]

The ONLY way he should not be traded is if they are more than confident they can re-sign him to a fair deal. I want Deng back, but you can't overpay him and risk losing him for nothing as well. Start extension talks again at the All-Star break.

That's why I'm assuming they're ready to give him 5 years.

[fleet]

Could just be leverage for trade talks. But if true you have to sign him. There is no in between here.

If this was a normal team, then yeah maybe. From the Bulls, this is totally believable.

[Bisonbull8]

Depending on our draft position around the deadline, id think about keeping him too. I cant remember who all said it, I know 1 mod said it, and a few others, but if we get Mirotic this off season, amnesty boozer, id want to re-sign deng too. Id let him walk if we get bad enough for a top 2-3 pick for Jabari so then Jabari can play the 3. And with our injuries, it honestly isnt out of the realm to get into the top 3 spot. Heck we are 1.5 games ahead of the Kings and 3.5 ahead of the Jazz in the west. We are 1.5 games ahead of the Magic for 3rd worst in the east. Ya I know we are also like 1 game away or so from the 6-8 seed but we are truly going down hill right now and I dont see an end in site.

[P.C.]

Local guys have said the Bulls are listening to offers for Deng.

Do you trust any of them? I think chokegate proved that none of them are in the loop. I'd wager a substantial amount of money that all of their sources are Bulls PR guys who just tell them what they want to hear.

[Hangtime84]

The ONLY way he should not be traded is if they are more than confident they can re-sign him to a fair deal. I want Deng back, but you can't overpay him and risk losing him for nothing as well. Start extension talks again at the All-Star break.

Bargin deal, not fair deal. A bargin

[weneeda2guard]

Not surprised

They would only want to do a deal to clear more cap space and get a draft pick and teams are holding they picks this season like " me precious" ring.

In order to trade deng they likely would have to take on additional salary and Its clear they want they cap space this off season

I would hope that they want it because they have plans in mind but looking at the track record here they could come into next season with just a healthy rose, some cheap vet min signings and a draft pick. Deng may just walk

[Ice Man]

According to a guy I know, the Bulls are talking to Phoenix and Cleveland about Deng for a 1st round 2014 pick. It's semi-reliable source.