NBA Trade Rumors - Luol Deng Suitors Include Lakers, Cavs, Mavericks, Raptors; What Are They Offering And Which One Will The Bulls Accept?

Luol Deng is in his contract year, and he can leave the Bulls without anything in return. Chicago needs to make a move, or Derrick Rose will return to a much weaker team.

That will be a nightmare for Chicago fans. It is already a sad reality that Derrick Rose will probably not return to his top form anymore with the series of injuries. If they would lose Deng for nothing, the team will no longer be considered as contenders.

Deng, for his part, is prepared for any possibility. The city of Chicago means a lot to him, but he is ready to take a better opportunity, especially since the career of pro hoops player is getting shorter.  Speaking with CSN Chicago:

"I've moved around a lot, but this is the longest I've been in one place my whole life and I came here at 19. I'm 28 now. I pretty much grew up here. So for me to think about being somewhere else, it's a weird feeling. But at the same time, I don't know what it's like to be somewhere else. I've been here my whole career. Maybe it's better, maybe it's not. I don't know that. The best thing I can do is play, be the best I can be and hope it works out. I don't know if it will be here, if it will be somewhere else. I don't know that. But right now, I can't hang on to that. I can't control that. I think when the season's over and everything is done, then you sit down and you go through that stuff."

Joakim Noah air strong feelings on playing with Deng: "To me, I don't care. That's my teammate. That's who I go to battle with. I don't care about comparing him to other guys. I can't see myself playing with anybody else. That's my brother, and there's nobody else I'd rather go to battle with. We started something together. Since I've been in the league, we've been together and I want to win with Lu."

That explains why it is not that easy to just trade Deng. What do the other teams have to offer?

The Lakers do not have any trade chips, any trade they get involved in includes Pau Gasol, and he is only an asset because of his expiring contract, something the Bulls are not crazy about.

The Cavs have offered Dion Waiters, a legit shooting guard that will allow Jimmy Butler to shift back into his natural '3' position. Trading a skilled, disciplined 10 year veteran for a third year player who has had chemistry issues is also not enticing. Bulls will consider only if the Cavs include a first rounder. Cavs also need assurance that Deng will re-sign with them. Highly unlikely.

Raptors will offer Kyle Lowry and John Salmons expiring contract. Since Salmons was recently traded, they have to wait until February 10 to execute this trade. Lowry would give them a good point guard, but Dj Augustin is slowly filling that void. Stay tuned until the deadline, they might work this out.

The Mavericks are also devoid of trade chips, and would rather aggressively pursue Deng in free agency. With Nowitzki agreeable to a pay cut, the Mavs could have a core of Monta Ellis (who is having a career epiphany) Deng and Dirk and enough cap room to sign another mid-level contributor. Dallas can be dangerous!