If we need to move one of those guys to get max cap space, which would it be? In favor of trading Kirk and keeping Deng: * He's 29 vs. Deng's 24. Five years makes a big difference. * On the whole, I think Deng is a superior player. In favor of trading Deng and keeping Kirk: * Deng's contract is bigger (he'll make $2.37M more than Kirk). * Deng's contract is not fully insured. While he's younger, there's reason to be concerned Deng might fall off in a bad way. Thought experiment: Which lineup looks better: Rose/Hinrich/Salmons or Rose/Salmons/James Johnson? Would Kirk have stood around while Jarret Jack tied his shoe?
I would rather have Deng. He is a better basketball player and younger than Hinrich. Rose/Hinrich/Salmons is better lineup in my opinion (Hinrich's experience and defense is key here). I doubt Hinrich would have stood around while Jarrett tied his shoe.
Rose/Hinrich/Salmons is the better lineup, no doubt. I'd keep Deng over Hinrich unless we badly needed the $2.xM extra space for someone way better than Deng (as a FA).
Like everyone else stated, the lineup with Kirk is better, but I'd also rather have Deng because of the way he's playing and he can only (hopefully) get better. And yes, Kirk would have D'd up Jack while he was tying his shoe.
