Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
For those who have watched the Chicago Bulls for the past nine seasons, you have had the privilege of witnessing one of the more underrated guys in the league hold this team together. Luol Deng has been a fan favorite for so long, but next summer he could be gone.
Deng’s contract is set to expire at the end of the 2013-2014 season and at the moment it is unclear whether the Bulls will bring him back. At some point over the past few months, Chicago has discussed an extension but at the same time have explored trade scenarios for the former Duke Blue Devil.
Speaking from the standpoint of a fan, I don’t believe the Bulls will bring him back, and justifiably so. While Deng is a great all-around player that brings plenty to the table, he also hasn’t had the healthiest of careers and after nine years this is a real concern.
Since entering the league, Deng has only played a full season twice. Five seasons he has played 70 games or less due to injury, and for the past two years now he has been putting off surgery on a torn ligament in his wrist — why?
That I cannot answer, to be honest. I am wondering why he would be putting off surgery on that wrist just as much as the next fan. Due to many of these points, I think Chicago is best served letting him go in free agency or at worst case working out a sign-and-trade with him involved.
Either way, the Bulls should enter into next summer with as much cap space as possible. Not having Deng on the books will certainly help their case for luring in another popular name amongst the enormous amount of free agents hitting the market in 2014.
Ryan Heckman is a Senior NBA Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @ryanmheckman, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
