Whatever is a step below All-Star is what Deng is.
He isn’t great, he is a good solid player, which makes him a perfect trade piece. Even he recognizes that.
While at training camp in Texas with Great Britain’s national team preparing for the London Olympics, Deng said he does not believe the Bulls are shopping him in retaliation for his decision to delay the wrist surgery he needs until after the Games.
But Deng, 27, did acknowledge that he’s not dismissing recent reports suggesting the Bulls are willing to trade him for a top pick in Thursday’s NBA draft, with speculation mounting that Chicago could send Deng to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for the No. 7 overall pick.
“I believe there is always to some extent truth behind rumors,” Deng said. “But as an athlete, if you get caught up in them, you are really wasting your time because it’s not something you can control.
The Bulls have went from a possible team that could run off a few titles to a team that future is really in doubt.
Until they know if Derrick Rose will be the Rose of old, they are in limbo.