Bulls fans have enough to worry about the next weeks—whom the team will name as head coach, whom John Paxson will take with the first overall pick in the draft—so it's easing to the mind to hear that Tyrus Thomas and Luol Deng are working out with David Thorpe at IMG Academy in Florida this early in the offseason.
"I'm just trying to get better," explained Deng in between scrimmages. "We had a tough year last year as a team, but that's behind me. It's behind all of us, and now we just have to look forward."
It's hard not to look forward with such a talented team adding a top prospect and a new coach, and Deng spoke openly about both in what was one of the first comments from a Bulls player about either.
"To be honest with you," Deng added, "both those guys (Michael Beasley and Derrick Rose) are great. I'm just happy that we got the number one pick. Our organization is going to do a good job of knowing who's going to fit us best, but I think whatever player you get is going to be great."
Both Rose and Beasley have made it clear that Chicago would be an ideal destination, specifically naming Deng as a guy they're looking forward to playing with. For two years now pundits have been saying Luol is the franchise player, but is he ready to shoulder the load?
"It's something I've got to keep preparing myself for. Like I said, those guys are great players and they're going to see other great players. Either or, I'm excited to play with them. With the year that we had this is the toughest summer. When you don't live up to expectations, you've got to look forward to the next summer to shut up all the critics out there."
As far as the coaching search is concerned, Deng gave only a wry smile, admitting "I really trust the organization in making that choice. Whatever we go with, that's what we're going to go with, and we'll all be in it together."
What does "together" mean for these Bulls? A lot can happen to this roster between now and the beginning of the season, including the unknown outcome of Deng's impending restricted free agency. As perhaps the Bulls most professional personality, however, Deng is setting an example for the rest of the young guys on this team that 2008-2009 will be different, which is hard to argue. The Bulls could hardly get any worse than they were last season, and with the changes this summer only good things appear to be on the horizon.
