Kobe Denying Us Deng

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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Chicago Bulls forward Luol Deng was a conflicted man on Wednesday night. He had turned down a reported $50 million earlier in the day, and now he sat inside the dank visiting locker room at the Meadowlands, preparing for a game and wanting some answers.</p>

Bulls forward Tyrus Thomas was looking for answers, too, leaning in to listen to the latest on the Kobe Bryant-centered universe.</p>

Chicago center Ben Wallace was all ears as well, likewise seeking an accurate reading on the Bryant talks.</p>

All three had been mentioned as potential trade bait for the Los Angeles Lakers superstar. So on the opening night of the season, a steady ship they were not.</p>

"No one is telling me much of anything. I don't know what is going on exactly," Deng said regarding the Bryant trade talks.</p>

And the state of those talks is this:</p>

Deng is very much in play in the conversations between Chicago and Los Angeles, ESPN.com has learned.</p>

And it's mainly because of Bryant's wishes that Deng is still wearing a Chicago uniform.</p>

A source with knowledge of the trade talks said Deng has been included in proposals swapped between the teams, but Bryant has continually threatened to veto almost any deal in which Deng would be included. Bryant wants to be sure that the team he joins has enough talent remaining to compete for the NBA title.</p>

The source said talks between the teams had stagnated, though by no means were they dead. And while the difficulties involved in the deal -- making the salaries match, and trying to trade players onto 15-man rosters now that the preseason roster flexibility has elapsed -- continued to be formidable, the Bulls remained determined to pursue every avenue toward acquiring Bryant from the Lakers.</p>

Magic Johnson, who owns a small percentage of the team, was critical of both the Lakers and Bryant during his guest spot on Tuesday's Lakers-Rockets telecast on TNT.</p>

"Watching the players and looking at their body language, they are going to have to make a decision about Kobe in the next week or two," Johnson, quoted by The Los Angeles Times, said. "It's got to come to a head. You've either got to trade him or come out and say you're going to keep him. Even Kobe needs it. He missed nine free throws [Tuesday]. It's on his mind too."</p>

<font size="4">As ESPN.com reported on Saturday, the Lakers have asked for Deng, Thomas, guard Ben Gordon and rookie Joakim Noah as the core parts of any trade for Bryant.</font></p>

Contrary to most reports, the Bulls remain ready and willing to deal Deng, the source said. But if they're going to include Deng in a deal, they will not part with more than one of the other three, said the source.</p>

Even then, it is not clear that any trade involving Deng would be acceptable to Bryant, who is wielding the power of the NBA's only no-trade clause by threatening to veto certain deals.</p>

"It's not just the Bulls and Lakers who have to be happy with this deal. Kobe does, too, and that's a major factor," the source said.</p>

The Bulls, according to ESPN.com's source, are willing to offer an alternative package of Gordon, Noah and Thomas.</div></p>

Source: ESPN.com</p>

This is ridiculous. The Lakers have an unbelievable deal in place and Kobe is cockblocking!</p>

 

Kobe has to say no to that deal. That is too much for the Bulls to give up, even if they were willing to do so.</p>

I always figured the deal would be Wallace, Gordon, Thomas or Noah, and a pick.</p>

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (speeds)</div><div class='quotemain'></p>

Kobe has to say no to that deal. That is too much for the Bulls to give up, even if they were willing to do so.</p>

I always figured the deal would be Wallace, Gordon, Thomas or Noah, and a pick.</p>

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According to the article he's vetoed several deals though. If Kobe wants to win NOW, then he has a great chance even if Chicago gives up that package. He'd still have Hinrich, Noc and Big Ben in the LEASTERN conference. He's not willing to wait for Bynum and the young Lakers to develop, so why is he willing to wait for Tyrus, Noah, and Deng to develop?</p>

He's sending mixed signals here.</p>

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<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (YourNewChef)</div><div class='quotemain'>I heard today that Gordon and Deng are going to leave the Bulls because they didnt like the extension they were offered, can anyone else add or verify this??</div></p>

Haven't heard this, but Deng seems to be bothered by it all. He's been terrible in the first two games.</p>

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