NBA Rumors: Luol Deng says Chicago Bulls wouldn’t let him negotiate contract offer
By Josh Hill
When the Chicago Bulls traded All-Star forward Luol Deng to the Cleveland Cavaliers, many Bulls fans scrambled for a reason why. Despite the fact that his contract was set to expire in the offseason, there was hope that Deng would re-sign with Chicago and avoid leaving the team.
That might be why reports of a rejected $30 million contract surfaced, followed by reports that Deng asked for $15 million per season from the Bulls. Deng has spoke up about the whole contract offer situation and said he was given a take-it-or-leave-it offer from the Bulls.
Needless to say, he left the offer on the table and the Bulls quickly traded him to Cleveland. Deng doesn’t deny rejecting the $30 million offer which he confirms was made to him. But he also states that general manager Gar Forman said that the offer was non negotiable and that Deng could either accept it or reject it and nothing else.
"“Three days before the trade, Gar called me upstairs and put three years, $30 million on the table. Take it or leave it. No negotiation. I said no and that was it. But 15? That’s the only thing that upset me. I’m not upset with the organization. I want everyone to understand that. If I was a GM, would I make that move? Maybe.”"
Deng’s attitude about the trade clashes with the red faced fury he was being described as by some. Deng isn’t bitter about the trade, and apparently hold son hard feelings towards the Bulls.
The fans who paid his salary his entire career don’t feel the same way.