NBA Trade Rumors: Chicago Bulls may still move Luol Deng before deadline
By Josh Hill
The Chicago Bulls aren’t having the season they expected to have and a lot of that has to do with the injuries they’ve suffered through the short season so far. But that’s only going to make their trade deadline plans even more interesting as Chicago has a real decision ahead of them as to what they should do about the future of the team.
Right now, the plan is to stick with what they have, not shop around at the deadline and try to both re-sign Luol Deng and bring over Nikola Mirotic in the offseason. Despite dangling Deng on the trade block for a few seconds the other week, the Bulls are saying they’re not going to shop him any further but that won’t stop them from agreeing to a trade if offered one.
ESPNChicago beat writer Nick Friedell has continued to stoke the coals about a Deng trade stating that he’s convinced the team will move the forward before the trade deadline in a few months.
This seems to fit with the notion that the Bulls are playing coy by dangling Deng and then pulling their hands back while saying they won’t shop him but won’t balk at any offers that come in for him. Deng’s contract may be an issue when it comes to making deal, but if the Bulls don’t think they can hammer out an extension they’re comfortable with during the offseason, they’ll move Deng and see where the chips fall from there.