The Chicago Bulls have been off to a slow start this season with Derrick Rose making a comeback from his injury and with the team 1-3 after losing to the Indiana Pacers, star Luol Deng has had some attention for heading into the final year of his contract.
Deng previously signed a six year, $70 million deal with the Bulls and the two sides did not find a way to come to an extension and now there is a chance that he could be traded. According to ESPN.com, Deng said to reporters that he wants to stay in Chicago for the rest of his career and that he loves it there, but money may play a part and while the team likely will wait to sign him as a free agent after the season, that doesn't mean the team won't possibly trade him down the line.
Deng is a very nice player and he will have teams targeting him in the offseason, including those like the New York Knicks and the Dallas Mavericks as well as the LA Lakers. Deng is 28-years-old and plenty of years ahead of him and he had a solid season last year and now he heads into the season with the question about his future over his head. Deng is set to be a free agent after the season and he is averaging career lows this season, but obviously it's early. Deng is averaging 13 points and five rebounds this season and Rose has been struggling as well since coming back from his injury.
Last season Deng averaged 16.5 points and six rebounds in 75 games and now he has the chance to get things going this season. The Bulls are obviously going to be in the mix this season and whether or not the team trades him remains to be seen.
"I definitely want to stay here," Deng said Wednesday at the morning shootaround before the Bulls' game at Indiana. "I would love to play here my whole career."
