Sources: Deng, Bulls On Verge Of Six-year, $70m Deal

[Cwell]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3510232

Derrick Rose was the No. 1 overall pick in last month's NBA draft, but Luol Deng still ranks as the Chicago Bulls' cornerstone player.

That status appeared to be slammed home Tuesday night when NBA front-office sources told ESPN.com that Deng and the Bulls, after more than a year of slow-moving negotiations, are suddenly on the verge of completing a new contract that will keep the restricted free agent in Chicago.

With Deng committed to leaving for England by week's end to join Great Britain's national team -- and insisting to the Bulls that he would not negotiate with them further without a deal by Friday -- sources said that the sides have verbally agreed on a new six-year pact believed to be worth in excess of $70 million.

Sources said that Deng's agent, Jason Levien, flew into Chicago to spend Tuesday at the Bulls' offices finalizing the deal, which could be announced as soon as Wednesday.

Given his modest background growing up in the Sudan and Egypt before moving to London, Deng stressed to the Bulls that he was not bluffing when he vowed to play next season on a one-year qualifying offer worth about $4.5 million for the right to become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2009.

The Bulls then gradually raised their offer to a higher annual average that Deng turned down in October, when Chicago was limited to offering him a five-year extension and presented the 6-foot-9 forward with a five-year package worth $57.5 million. As ESPN.com reported earlier this month, Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf chose to personally handle the bulk of the negotiations with Deng's camp as opposed to the standard practice of Bulls general manager John Paxson serving as lead negotiator.

Deng, 23, couldn't avoid being dragged down by the Bulls' nightmare season, with Chicago never recovering from the contract extensions that he and teammate Ben Gordon failed to secure in October and smothering speculation about a trade for Kobe Bryant. The Bulls ultimately netted a 33-49 record that cost coach Scott Skiles and interim replacement Jim Boylan their jobs, while Deng played in just 63 games and averaged 17.0 points and 6.3 rebounds, down slightly from his the numbers in his breakout 2006-07 season (18.8 points, 7.1 rebounds and 51.7-percent shooting from the floor) when the Bulls went 49-33 and swept the defending champion Miami Heat in the first round of the playoffs.

But Deng is said to be excited by the Bulls' appointment of rookie coach Vinny Del Negro and, with long-term security achieved, can head overseas with no concerns about the future. He's trying to help his new national team -- Deng received a British passport in October 2006 -- qualify for the 2009 European Championships and continue the restoration of Great Britain's basketball program. Team Great Britain is coached by Pennsylvania native Chris Finch, and Deng serves as an official ambassador for the London's 2012 Olympics.

Edited July 30, 2008 by Cwell

[Guest]

This should be about the time where we see Smoove getting closer, but we probably won't until mid-August.

[WraithSentinel]

No excuses now pay Smoove the $12 mil per he wants ASG.

[Swish]

No excuses now pay Smoove the $12 mil per he wants ASG.

Exactly. However, I question whether Deng is their cornerstone player as mentioned in the article. With Noah, Gordon, and Rose? Hm.

[Cwell]

Exactly. However, I question whether Deng is their cornerstone player as mentioned in the article. With Noah, Gordon, and Rose? Hm.

Noah?Gordon? nahhh. Rose maybe but he hasn't played yet. Deng is easily their best player. Gordon doesn't even start.

[DrReality]

The others around him are starting to fall into place, the question is whether or not he wants to come back even for that. have they pissed him off so bad he doens't want it????

Sekou made it sound that way on the radio today.

[Cwell]

They made it sound the same with Charlotte and Okafor also.Show him the money and he'll come back, that's all it takes.

[WraithSentinel]

Espn is reporting now the deal could be worth up to $80 million. I am alright with Smoove wanting $70-$72 million over 6 years. $12 mil per doesn't hurt the team. The max contract for Smoove might be going too far.

[Dexmethylphenidate]

Deng And Bulls Agree On Deal

Luol Deng and the Chicago Bulls have agreed to six-year contract that could be worth as much as $80 million.

Deng has been a restricted free agent this summer.

The Bulls e-mailed a news release Wednesday afternoon announcing the "contract signing of Luol Deng." No details on the deal were released.

The new deal was reported earlier by the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times and ESPN.com, which said the contract would include $71 million in guaranteed money.

deng_and_bulls_agree_on_deal/