Bulls tell Deng he’s not going to GS
The Bulls might be willing to listen to offers for 27-year-old All-Star forward Luol Deng, but he’s been told there’s “no chance” of a deal to the Golden State Warriors.
Multiple reports on Sunday linked the Bulls and Warriors in a deal that suggested Chicago targeted the Warriors with a goal of landing the seventh overall pick in Thursday’s draft. Yahoo Sports reported that Deng has been assured privately that deal won’t happen.
That doesn’t mean Deng won’t be involved in another deal. However, he’s been rumored to be part of many trade packages in recent years, and none materialized.
The Warriors are over the salary cap for next season and couldn’t take back more salary than they’re trading, which makes the deal a non-starter given ownership’s unwillingness to toe the line of the luxury tax.
Deng’s value to the Bulls might be greater than it is to other teams. While not an explosive scorer, he’s versatile on both ends of the court. His $13.33 million salary for next season and $14.3 milion in ’13 means the Bulls would have to be willing to take on a similar deal in return.
Deng signed a six-year, $71 million in 2008. He was drafted in the first round out of Duke by the Phoenix Suns and dealt to the Bulls during the 2004 draft.
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