Bulls trade away Deng

The Andrew Bynum saga is finally over! Bynum was traded to the Chicago Bulls for 2 time all-star Luol Deng. The Bulls also received a first round pick in this year’s draft that’s top 12 protected from the Kings that was owned by the Cavs. They also have the right to swap picks in the first round with Cleveland in the 2015 draft and they also receive two 2^nd round picks.

                For the Cavs this is a win now move. They get Deng, who is a great perimeter defender and a good offensive player and adds a winning mentality to the young Cleveland team. The Cavs now are a playoff team in the east. Deng is 28 and is in the last year of his contract and is due for a big contract. The Cavs almost have to overpay him after this season after trading away 3 picks. The only downside to signing him long term is that Deng might be breaking down. He has played the most minutes in the NBA over the four seasons. He’s already missed 9 games this year. Dan Gilbert promised the fans of Cleveland that he wouldn’t be back at the draft lottery this year and it looks like he’ll be keeping that promise. For the long term I don’t like this move for Cleveland I really think Deng will breakdown soon.

                For the Bulls, this is the start of a mini rebuild. Andrew Bynum will be waived by the Bulls immediately so they don’t have to pay him the six million dollars left on his contract. I call it a mini rebuild because the Bulls still have Jimmy Butler, Joakim Noah and Derrick Rose, if he ever stay healthy. The Bulls still have one more piece to get rid of in their mini rebuild, and that’s Carlos Boozer. He has a monster contract and will be difficult to trade, but the Bulls do have the option to amnesty him after the season. Trading Deng was the right way to go for Chicago. Signing Deng long term would have kept the Bulls in neutral. By trading him it takes the Bulls out of the playoff picture and into the lottery. The Bulls could have three picks this year. Their own, Charlotte’s which is top 10 protected and The Kings pick top 12 protected. The Bobcats are currently 7^th in the east and one of the early season surprises it looks like the Bulls will have that pick. The Kings with their new owner seem to be in a win now mood after trading for Rudy Gay and now have interest in Nuggets point guard, Andre Miller.  What does that all mean? It means the Bulls could have three first round picks in one of the most highly anticipated draft classes in recent history. Big picture for the Bulls, if they amnesty Boozer and let his contract go, can they convince Carmelo Anthony to take less money and play for the Bulls? If Melo joined the Bulls they would be title contenders as long as Derrick Rose is healthy.

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