The Chicago Bulls are one of many teams looking to make a splash in free agency this summer and one of their moves could be bringing back a familiar face to the roster. Earlier this month, the team traded away two-time All-Star Luol Deng to the Cleveland Cavaliers in favor of saved salary cap space and draft picks. However, fans should not rule out a return from Deng next year.
The Bulls let go of Deng simply because he was approaching free agency and the two sides failed to negotiate a contract extension in the previous offseason. The Bulls felt like Deng was requesting too much money and figuring he would do so again, they sent him packing.
The Cleveland Cavaliers deny that Deng is just a season rental being used to help make a push for the playoffs. The team has every intention of offering the forward a long-term extension this offseason.
"We're bringing him here and we'd like to keep him here long term," Grant said, via the Cleveland News-Herald. "He's 28 years old. We see him as part of our core and our youth moving forward. We'll get through the season and get into those conversations at the appropriate time."
However, could Deng be open to a return to the Bulls instead? Neither Chicago nor the forward have ruled out the option of a return. The trade of Deng got the bulls back under the salary cap and luxury tax line, but with a few offseason moves, they could easily bring him back. If the Bulls opted to amnesty Carlos Boozer, it would create more space to bring back Deng and possibly one other big name.
"What happened happened," Deng said, via the Chicago Tribune. "I love Chicago. There's no bad blood or anything. For me to say I'm taking Chicago out of the equation, that's stupid. I was there for 10 years."
The contract talks will continue to be the issue. If Deng does help get the Cavaliers to the playoffs, his value and price tag will sky rocket. He and the Bulls already had a difficult time negotiating a new deal last season and it could simply get worse.
"Three days before the trade, Gar called me upstairs and put three years, $30 million on the table. Take it or leave it. No negotiation. I said no and that was it," Deng said. "But 15? That's the only thing that upset me. I'm not upset with the organization. I want everyone to understand that. If I was a GM, would I make that move? Maybe. I wanted to be in Chicago. I thought I was going to end my career there. Not talking during the summer, did that hurt me? Yeah."
Do not expect the Bulls to be completive for Deng. The team will make an offer if interested, but it is unlikely they will engage in long negotiations once again. Plenty of teammates like Joakim Noah and Derrick Rose would love to have Deng back, but ownership might still be shakey on him.