In what is a huge move today, the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers pulled off a major trade that will send Luol Deng to Cleveland. In exchange, the Bulls get Andrew Bynum and draft picks in return. The Cavs made the announcement on their website."We are very excited for Luol to join the Cavaliers organization, " said Cavs general manager Chris Grant. "We have worked to acquire and maintain flexibility in order to capitalize on opportunities such as this. Luol reflects all that we are striving for in building our team. He’s a tremendous defensive player that can impact the game on both ends of the court with a team first mentality and is a high character leader.”
The Bulls get three future draft picks, along with the rights to swap picks with the Cavs in the draft. Any picks between 1-14 will be protected, however.
Bynum was expected to be cut on Tuesday if Cleveland didn't get a trade off by then, but they were able to move him away. Sending away Deng also saves the Bulls $15 million in salary and luxury taxes. The trade officially shuts down earlier rumors of the Cavs working with the Los Angeles Lakers to get Pau Gasol in return.
But what does this mean for both teams?
The Cavs get a nice, serviceable forward in Deng that they desperately need. They needed a hole to fill in at small forward, and Deng could be the guy to get the Cavs over the hump and into the playoffs as he teams up with Kyrie Irving.
For Chicago, this could mean they are tanking. With Derrick Rose out and Deng gone, the Bulls now have Joakim Noah, Jimmy Butler, Taj Gibson and Carlos Boozer as their main pieces. But that won't be enough to make noise in the playoffs, let alone maybe even make the postseason.
Chicago also could get a big man for the future in Bynum if things go well. Or they could end up sending him away now, by the deadline or in the offseason.
As for now, there's a lot to say about this. Will Chicago be rebuilding? Will they amnesty Carlos Boozer next? Will Derrick Rose still be in their plans? Is Joakim Noah gone, too?
We'll see, but this is crazy my friends.
