With a broken thumb, Deng has missed 0 games, played 38:06 minutes/game, shot 46.2%, 40% from 3pt, 7.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1 steal, and averages 17.4 PPG. He's played many 40+ minute games and typically guards opponents' best player. Last night he shot 13-18, with 6 boards, for 27 points in 32.5 minutes. The objective of this trade for the Bulls is to take back $1M-$2M less in salary so they remain under the cap, to get some additional cap space for the summer, and to get a guy who can play some backup SG and SF on a cheap contract (if only for 1-2 years). Deng is 24 years old, and gives you a very solid 3-4-5 for years to come, considering the ages of him and Oden and LMA. You guys can actually make some noise in the playoffs this year, as he's a pretty big upgrade for you while you lose some depth at your strongest position (PG). It leaves you with Miller, Roy, and Bayless, at least, at guards. The Bulls would play Salmons at SF backed up by Rudy, and (ugh) Blake and Rose at guard backed up by Rudy.
I'm actually not unhappy with Miller and Bayless. If we could get Deng and Thomas I would be psyched though. Steve Blake, Travis Outlaw, and Joel Przybilla for Deng and Thomas.
The SF on this team absolutely needs to be able to knock down 3's. Deng doesn't provide that, plus I don't like his contract at all. Good player, not a great fit for Portland.
In another thread in the forum, one of you guys posted from Insider that the Bulls are talking to Toronto for Bosh. The deal mentioned was Hinrich and Thomas. If the Bulls pulled that off, dealing Deng for cap space would give the Bulls enough room to make a MAX contract pitch to one of the other top FAs. Besides, I'd prefer Thomas to either Blake or Outlaw.
He's got a player option that he won't exercise. If he were a UFA and the Bulls could sign him for MLE money, I'd love to see that happen.
Why wouldn't Przy exercise his option? It gives him a year to establish his value again while making some good money.
I meant he wouldn't exercise the option to become a FA. The Bulls would be stuck paying his ~$7m salary next season, when they're looking for cap relief.
I like the deal. THe one big worry I have is 3pt shooting. But with Webs and Batum we should be fine. Especially if LMA, Cunningham, and Roy all have decent 3pt shots, and Bayless does seem to be improving. I do think that this would make Miller a worse fit, but that could always change next season.
I think this right here is the key to this deal. In theory, while Nic, Martell, and Deng are all 3s, they could all also be on the court at the same time. Think of the improvement in perimeter defense with Deng added to the defense. In fact, in the 9-man rotation listed above, Roy and Miller are the only players who are not considered at least average defenders (Well, I guess Bayless by some), and Roy is capable of playing excellent defense when he chooses to. I'd be all in favor of this move.
No way. Provided Rudy is healthy. Rudy is a clutch player and you just don't find many of those guys in the league. Deng is overrated.
Here are Rudy's "clutch time" statistics: http://www.82games.com/0910/09POR4.HTM#clutch 40% on field goals, offensive rating of 75 points per 100 possessions, defensive rating of 108 points given up per 100 possessions, no fouls drawn, a piss poor hands rating of 2.5. Deng on the other hand has one of the best adjusted plus/minus ratings in the league (take it for what it's worth) rebounds, defends and shoots pretty well, but just not prolifically from the beyond the arc. Somebody is overrated here, that's for sure.
Agreed. But what about the litany of injuries Deng has had since he's been in the league? Doesn't that scare you?
... Rudy's 2009-10 stats don't mean much as he was clearly injured and trying to play through it. I'd expect any player who ended up needing back surgery would see their stats suffer. STOMP
