Bynum will be waived immediately, so don't get any dreams of the "Twin Towers" of Bynum and Joakim Noah. Cutting Bynum saves the Bulls $6 million in salary, but more importantly, $15 million in luxury tax money. Fans are always really concerned about saving Jerry Reinsdorf and Co money, but I'd hate to admit that I don't really care. I understand the rules of the salary cap, but the deal doesn't change the Bulls cap position much had the team allowed Deng to walk in free agency.
Why Wouldn't Deng Resign?
Word on Twitter from Bulls' beat reporter KC Johnson is that the Bulls offered 3 years/$30 million and 4 years/$40 million, though Deng is apparently looking for $14-$15 million a year. The Bulls weren't going to pay him what he wanted, and I have little doubt that some GM will come along with the offer Deng's looking for. You should totally understand that if you were in the same situation, you would want to maximize your earnings too.
We also must not forget management's handling of Deng's injury and sickness issues. You may recall that during the 2013 playoffs, Deng received a spinal tap and the poor guy nearly died. However, before that, the Bulls told Deng to get surgery on his injured wrist and not play in the Olympics--a once in a lifetime opportunity for one of professional sports' most global citizens. Deng may even sign for $10 million in the offseason, but it has been made pretty clear that he did not like how he was treated by management.
Deng's been one of my favorite players, and I've loved watching him play. His loss is devastating not only for his on-court efforts, but also because he's genuinely a great person. Character can often be tossed aside in the NBA, but Deng certainly isn't lacking it.
What did the Bulls really Get?
On top of saving the Bulls corporation significant cash payments, the trade netted the Bulls a few picks. The Bulls received a protected first round pick via the Sacramento Kings. The pick is top 12 protected this year, and top 10 protected until 2017. If the Kings remain miserable, then the Bulls will receive a 2017 2nd round pick. The Bulls also received 2 second round picks, one in 2015 and one in 2016 from the Portland Trail Blazers. With the Blazers off to an amazing start and wielding a young core that includes LaMarcus Aldridge, Damian Lillard, Nic Batum, and Wesley Matthews, I don't like the odds of that pick being located near the beginning of the 2nd round. Still, things can change rapidly in the NBA, so you never know.
It's tough to speculate, but I don't like the odds of the Bulls ever getting a first rounder out of this. Sacremento is a terrible team in an extremely difficult conference. Demarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay are some of the most selfish players in the history of the NBA, and, in typical NBA fashion, the team didn't allow hedge fund manager Chris Hansen and Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer to buy the team to move it to Seattle and ball out. Maybe the Kings will get an unlucky bounce and be out of the top 10 within the next three years, but the odds are not great.
The Bulls can also swap picks with the Cavs after next season, assuming the Cavs don't resign LeBron James and begin stacking championship trophies. Heck, the Cavs might be better than the Bulls next season without LeBron, but this essentially gives the Bulls unlimited upside with no downside risk.
There's no need to turn this trade into anything other than it is: a money saver. Sure, maybe it helps the Bulls to lose their best player and any chance at winning. Maybe the Bulls fall into the lottery, but even if they do not, the Bulls will have a better pick without Deng than with him.
Ultimately, I cannot help but think that the Bulls could have received something better. I know this post-lockout NBA has become much wiser in terms of signing players to outlandish deals (Drew Gooden) as well as in terms of acquiring assets. Nevertheless, I think the Bulls could have waited and received a guaranteed first round pick or at least a young asset for the future. Aside from the financial gain, this was a very risky trade.
I've loved every moment of Deng's career, and it sucks to see him go. I loved him paired with Ben Gordon, and I loved watching him bust his ass no matter how injured he was. The Bulls are officially in tank mode, but they may also be in "make life so unbearable for Tom Thibodeau that he quits" mode. We'll see what happens, but it will be a long season.
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