Days before being traded, forward Luol Deng said he was faced with a take-it-or-leave-it proposition to stay with the Chicago Bulls. He decided to leave it, and that ended with the small forward leaving the Bulls organization altogether.
Luol Deng says Bulls refused to negotiate new contract
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Luol Deng said he was only given a take-it-or-leave-it option from the Chicago Bulls.
Andrew Richardson-USA TODAY Spor
Deng, the new Cleveland Cavaliers forward, told K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune that Bulls general manager Gar Forman proposed a three-year, $30 million non-negotiable extension to stay with Chicago. Deng added that he never asked for $15 million per year, nor did he even throw out a number.
“Three days before the trade, Gar called me upstairs and put three years, $30 million on the table. Take it or leave it. No negotiation. I said no and that was it. But 15? That’s the only thing that upset me. I’m not upset with the organization. I want everyone to understand that. If I was a GM, would I make that move? Maybe.”
Additionally, Deng said the Bulls didn't want to negotiate with him leading into the season. The franchise wanted to wait out the recovery and return of point guard Derrick Rose, who did return from an ACL tear but then suffered a torn meniscus. The injury had a major impact on Deng as the Bulls look toward a rebuild.
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This past week, Chicago traded Deng to the Cavs for center Andrew Bynum, who was waived once the transaction went through.
Deng will play out the 2013-14 on the final year of his current contract, which is paying him $14.3 million this year. He is averaging 19 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game.
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