Luol Deng knows that the Chicago Bulls could trade him at any time. The Bulls are 7-7—tied for eighth in the Eastern Conference—and they flirted with the idea of shipping him off for a 2012-13 rookie in the offseason. That didn’t happen, and the .500 team is now relying on Deng to play 40.5 minutes per game.
That’s dangerous territory.
Deng has played two (of a possible eight) full NBA seasons. He’s been in street clothes for 101 contests. The 27-year-old should be in the prime of his career, making him more attractive to a squad that doesn’t require his services for so many minutes per night.
Deng has played an increasing amount of time per game since the 37.9 MPG that he logged in the 2009-10 season. He rebounds well from the small forward position, pulling down 7.4 boards a night this year. At 6’9”, Deng’s lanky frame also enables him to be a reliable wing defender and a valuable contributor to a contender.
What you don’t want him to be, however, is the leading shot-taker on your team. That’s who Deng is for this iteration of the Bulls—a team that lacks a forme ...
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Article written by Jamal Collier
Chicago Bulls Must Consider Trading Luol Deng During or After This Season
November 30th, 2012 by Jamal Collier Leave a reply »
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