Report: Thibodeau not happy Deng could walk after season

[Cerebral]

While everyone around the Bulls plays it down, let’s just say it’s accepted as fact around the rest of the league that coach Tom Thibodeau and Bulls GM Gar Forman (and the rest of the front office) don’t see things the same way. There is naturally some tension in any coach/GM relationship — a coach wants assets he can win with now, a GM has to think cap and budget and three years down the road — but Chicago’s relationship has some real issues.

The latest issue could be Luol Deng.

The Bulls cut off contract extension talks with him and Deng is going to test free agency next summer. Thibodeau sees Deng as central to his system and the team.

So, tension follows. Joe Cowley at the Sun Times adds some color to this.

But at least one source feels that would change if forward Luol Deng is traded or allowed to walk into free agency without an extension next summer.

“Ask Tom how important he thinks Luol is,’’ the source said. “How happy do you think he would be with that decision?…”

“You need rebounding, he’ll give you rebounding,’’ Thibodeau said of Deng late last season. “If he’s not shooting well, he gives you great defense. No matter how the game is going, he’s always going to be there late for you, no matter if it’s pick-and-roll offense, swinging the ball, moving without the ball, making a great random cut from the weak side. He has great impact on winning. You can’t ask anything more of one of your best players.’’

Bulls management has looked at the Heat, the Thunder and other top teams around the league and seemed to be aiming for clearing out some space to add another elite player next to Rose. If Deng walks and they amnesty Carlos Boozer, they Bulls will have the cap space to target the deep crop of free agents this summer expected to include everyone from LeBron James (not likely to land in Chicago) to guys like Danny Granger and Zach Randolph. It’s a deep class, but it’s also a risk in trying to get a guy on the open market. The Bulls could also see what they could get in return for a Deng trade.

Thibodeau also knows he hadn’t seen what this group of players can do healthy in the playoffs — they were just hitting their stride and seemed destined for a showdown with the Heat two seasons ago when Derrick Rose injured his knee. Now this one season will become the test of how good this Bulls rotation will be.

It may also be the one and only time we get to see it. Which isn’t likely to make Thibodeau happy.

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports....walk-after-season/?ocid=Yahoo&partner=ya5nbcs

 

[clonetrooper264]

Well I'd be mad that my favorite player could be leaving too if I were him.

Good thing he has Jimmy waiting in the wings to fill in that role of playing 45 minutes a night

 

[Gustavus Adolphus]

But the Ron Adams firing was being overblown. This is an issue going forward, and don't bet on Thibs.

 

[ChettheJet]

Is any coach going to say he doesn't care if one of his main players COULD leave at the end of the upcoming season? Yes Deng does what he does and what's needed when called on but he's also at the top of his game and never going to get to a higher level. The Bulls haven't won a title so it would be stupid to just stick with the same old roster waiting for it to finally win. Any team even the champions make some changes or they risk staying behind where they are or falling. Yes it's a risk, so is every draft pick and trade. If the Bulls can clear the space and get a star and let the steady guy go, it's the right move.

 

[clonetrooper264]

If the Bulls can clear the space and get a star and let the steady guy go, it's the right move.

Except they won't so I guess it's the wrong move

 

[houheffna]

Except they won't so I guess it's the wrong move

So they shouldn't try???

 

[nwfisch]

But the Ron Adams firing was being overblown. This is an issue going forward, and don't bet on Thibs.

I don't think anyone here was understating the Adams firing.

 

[clonetrooper264]

So they shouldn't try???

That's not what I said. They will try, and I expect them and want them to like any proper fan who wants to see their team improve would. However, there's no one that they're realistically going to get that's better than Deng and it's very likely that they'll go the "cheap route" and let Deng get overpaid somewhere else. The question at that point becomes whether or not that was a mistake. It's similar to the Asik situation in a way, to try to get the best possible team now while sacrificing potential future flexibility or to play a waiting game of sorts waiting for the right piece to come along.

All that said, the response was to "if they get a star and let the steady guy go, it's the right move" which implicitly means if they don't get a star or if they resign Deng, it's the wrong move. I find it highly unlikely that we upgrade over Deng in free agency or trade this offseason, so does that mean keeping Deng if he's the best option available is a bad move? Or that letting him walk and getting effectively worse is a bad move? We don't know...for all we know stars could align and whatever plan they were going for could work out.

 

[transplant]

I read the referenced story and the Cowley story and Wow is this total BS. There's absolutely no evidence to suggest that "Thibodeau (is) not happy Deng could walk after season." Both stories hinge on this from an unnamed source:

“Ask Tom how important he thinks Luol is,’’ the source said. “How happy do you think he would be with that decision?…”

C'mon, every Bulls fan who hasn't been in a coma during the Thibodeau era knows that the coach highly appreciates Deng's game. That's really the only substance for either story. All the rest is made up crap.

 

[Daa Bearrs]

I've supported Bulls management from the beginning but if they trade Deng for some shitty chucking two-guard instead of paying him, or they just flat out let him walk outright, they can go **** themselves for listening to this Special person fan-base instead of actually trying to win a championship.

Luol Deng is a GREAT player who for some reason Bulls fans have been wanting to kick out the door for like 5 years now.

 

[houheffna]

I've supported Bulls management from the beginning but if they trade Deng for some shitty chucking two-guard instead of paying him, or they just flat out let him walk outright, they can go **** themselves for listening to this Special person fan-base instead of actually trying to win a championship.

Luol Deng is a GREAT player who for some reason Bulls fans have been wanting to kick out the door for like 5 years now.

Lol...no.

 

[Gustavus Adolphus]

I've supported Bulls management from the beginning but if they trade Deng for some shitty chucking two-guard instead of paying him, or they just flat out let him walk outright, they can go **** themselves for listening to this Special person fan-base instead of actually trying to win a championship.

Luol Deng is a GREAT player who for some reason Bulls fans have been wanting to kick out the door for like 5 years now.

Fair point, because the Bulls have won so many championships with Deng on the roster.

 

[DCguy]

Unless it is a clear and unquestioned upgrade, they need to resign Deng.

 

[RamiTheBullsFan]

Some 2014 free agents:

-Kobe Bryant (SG)
-Paul George (SG/SF) - Restricted
-Carmelo Anthony (PF/SF)
-Ray Allen (SG)
-Gordon Hayward (SG) - Restricted
-Evan Turner (SF/SG) - Restricted
-Derrick Favors (C/PF) - Restricted
-DeMarcus Cousins (C) - Restricted
(^^^not including LeBron & Wade who I personally don't want anywhere near the Bulls)

The Bulls would be idiots not to absorb the cap-space from Deng & Boozer leaving next off-season. They can potentially get younger and not lose much (if any) overall talent.

Worst-case scenario (2014-15 Bulls):
C- Noah
F- Taj, Mirotic
F- Butler
G- (Hayward or Ray Allen)
G- Rose

Or they can opt to trade Deng for a Tyreke Evans or Eric Gordon type of guy (I think New Orleans [SF-lacking] would go for a deal like that).

The worst thing the Bulls could do is sign Deng long-term. And this is coming from a big Deng fan.

Even if the Bulls win the friggin title next season, they still should let Deng go unless he somehow settles for somewhere a lot lower than the 10M/year range.

 

[Daa Bearrs]

Fair point, because the Bulls have won so many championships with Deng on the roster.

The Bulls have won three straight championships with Luke Longley on the roster. What is your Special person point?

 

[Gustavus Adolphus]

The Bulls have won three straight championships with Luke Longley on the roster. What is your Special person point?

Who else was on that roster with Luc Longley?

 

[Crystallas]

Who else was on that roster with Luc Longley?

That guy ^^^

A few DPOTY caliber players and a MVP

:shrug:

 

[Gustavus Adolphus]

That guy ^^^

A few DPOTY caliber players and a MVP

:shrug:

Right, but as we all know, it was Luc Longley that really brought everything home.

 

[Crystallas]

Right, but as we all know, it was Luc Longley that really brought everything home.

No, that was Bill Wennington. No way in hell did Krause let Luc drive the bus home.

 

[Gustavus Adolphus]

No, that was Bill Wennington. No way in hell did Krause let Luc drive the bus home.

All I know is that Luc Longley playing on three championship teams is clearly the same as Luol Deng not winning championships with this current team.