Luol Deng is gone and the Chicago Bulls are forced to move without their two-time All-Star forward. While players and head coach Tom Thibodeau might not agree with the move made that brought draft picks and extra money to the team, they have to continue playing despite a potential of a tanking season. However, not everyone is taking the trade very well.
The Bulls might have gotten salary cap relief with the trade of Deng, but their players are not happy with ownership. Chicago certainly did not plan on their season turning out like this, but another injury to Derrick Rose has forced a potential tanking plan. According to Thibodeau, Joakim Noah is still working to move past things after the big man refused to talk to media following the trade.
"Jo has been around, he can handle things," Thibodeau said. "Luol is not the first player that was ever traded from the Chicago Bulls. It's the same thing when we get a new player, we always embrace whoever that new player is. That's the way it is. We just focus on our team and improvement. He's playing at a high level. He played a great game. Now the challenge is to come back after you have a good game to play another good game. You can't feel good about yourself. You have to be ready for the next one."
Noah is not the only one still upset over Deng's departure. Thibodeau did not exactly have kind words when addressing the trade to the media. However, while he might not agree, he understands the league is a business and the Bulls must continue to make financial decisions that best help the team in the future.
"I had a chance to voice my opinion. Their job is to make financial decisions, to make player personnel decisions, and things of that nature. Their job is to do that. My job is to coach the guys that are here. That's the way it works," Thibodeau said, via ESPN.com
Time will tell just how great the moves end up being for the Bulls. Chicago is certainly looking at getting draft picks to stock up on young talent. Financially, dropping Deng frees up around $20 million for next year. They also reportedly plan to consider using the amnesty clause on Carlos Boozer to free up even more cash in the future.
