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NBA odds: Deng gives Bulls an ultimatum
By Jonathan WachsWagerWeb.com Contributing Writer
| Sports Betting at WagerWeb Online Sportsbook |
Luol Deng turned down a $57.5 million extension from the Chicago Bulls last offseason, which looked like a bad move when he and the Bulls had down years.
Deng, a small forward, is a restricted free agent this offseason, and he doesn’t want contract negotiations to disrupt him like they did last year. So he has reportedly told the Bulls that if the two sides don’t agree on a long-term deal by Aug. 4, when he leaves the U.S. to compete in the Beijing Olympics (for England), that he will sign a one-year qualifying offer for $4.5 million and become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
The sides remain far apart, and the Bulls’ offer this time around has not matched last year’s figure. Deng averaged 17 points and 6.3 rebounds in 63 games last season -- a drop from the 18.8 points and 7.1 rebounds he averaged in 2006-07. The Bulls, meanwhile, fell to 33-49.
Deng’s agent, Jason Levien, didn't represent Deng at the time of the negotiations last fall. Reportedly the Bulls are willing to offer just a three-year deal so Deng could return to the free agent market sooner.
If no extension is reached, Deng's camp could offer the Bulls a window to execute a sign-and-trade so as not to lose their former lottery acquisition for nothing.
Portland is one of several teams projected to have ample salary-cap space in 2009 where Deng would fit (as opposed to this season, where only the Memphis Grizzlies have any real cap space remaining). This fact, along with a feeling the Bulls have had two summers to negotiate with Deng, is creating this urgency.
Chicago may be waiting for the market to set the price, as there remain several restricted free agents who are unsigned, including: fellow Bull Ben Gordon, Philadelphia's Andre Iguodala, Charlotte's Emeka Okafor, Atlanta's Josh Smith and Josh Childress, and Monta Ellis and Andris Biedrins of Golden State.
The Bulls will not pay the league's luxury tax and have only about $17.2 million of cushion to spend on Deng and Gordon next year before becoming a tax team.
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