Breaking — Deng to the Cavs for Bynum
2014-01-06
ESPN’S Brian Windhorst is reporting that the Cavs have traded Andrew Bynum and a future first round draft pick to the Bulls for Luol Deng. As was reported yesterday, the Cavs will probably have to waive any physicals to get this thing in under the wire (5 PM EST, Wednesday).
–Update–
More info, from the Cavs press release, here.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have acquired All-Star forward Luol Deng from the Chicago Bulls in exchange for center Andrew Bynum, three future draft picks and the right to swap 2015 first round picks with the Cavs (1-14 protected), Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant announced tonight from Cleveland Clinic Courts.
“We are very excited for Luol to join the Cavaliers organization, ” said Grant. “We have worked to acquire and maintain flexibility in order to capitalize on opportunities such as this. Luol reflects all that we are striving for in building our team. He’s a tremendous defensive player that can impact the game on both ends of the court with a team first mentality and is a high character leader.”
In exchange for Deng, the Cavs send Chicago Bynum, Cleveland’s right to the Sacramento King’s first round draft pick conveyed in a June 30, 2011 deal, the right for Chicago to swap its own 2015 first round draft pick with the Cavs own 2015 first round draft pick (only in the case that the Cleveland 2015 first round draft pick is between 15 and 30) and the Portland Trail Blazer’s 2015 and 2016 second round draft picks acquired from the Trail Blazers via a 2013 draft night trade.
–Update II–
Apparently, @ShamsCharania of RealGM.com broke this story, scooping all the major beat reporters and news outlets. Well done, Shams.
Also, according to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune, the last rejected Bulls extension offer for Deng was around 3 years/$30 Million, or 4 years/$40 Million. So the Cavs are going to have to pay more than that to extend Mr. Deng.
As Twitter pages for NBA players go, you couldn’t ask for a better one than this, @LuolDeng9. Almost every link is for charity work. I’m sure they’ll miss him in Chicago.
Hey Ross, respectfully disagree. It should completely be the goal at this point. To win a title, history has shown (the Rockets Hakeem title-team-anomaly aside), a team will need a superstar and a top-25-in-the-league star. You worry about the complementary players once you have superstar and star. Depending on your opinion of Kyrie at this point, he is a star or borderline star. It is reasonable to expect he will be a NBA star for some time. And it is possible, though I wouldn’t bet on it, he becomes a superstar. There is no one on this roster, as presently… Read more »
Making the 7 or 8 seed in the East this season is the worst possible place to be in the NBA. The bottom teams in the Western conference are better than those in the East. The top teams in the East are arguably the 2 best teams in the NBA (along with SA). So a 7 or 8 seed in the East “wins” the following: -a 1st round 4-0 or 4-1 playoff exit. -watching better teams (in the West) enter the draft lottery for the best draft class in over a decade. Deng is a great player and possibly the… Read more »
This move doesn’t remove the possibility that we will find ourselves in the lottery again, but we differ in that I don’t think that should be the goal at this point.
Ross,
That is usually true. But obviously NOT when the upcoming draft is likely to be the best lottery in history. Now the Bulls are playing the hand the Cavs should have.
Brian, winning games is generally the right thing to do for a team attempting to be a championship contender. We are flush with future assets. At some point, you have to pull the trigger and use them.
This is disappointing on many levels. It tells me either Gilbert is too involved in calling the player-personnel shots, Grant is making decisions based on a fear of losing his job, or Grant is not as sharp as many of us thought. None of those are good things to learn today. So yippee! We may be marginally more entertaining to watch. And we may earn the seventh or eighth seed in the crappy East to earn the right to lose a first-round playoff series. And we may earn the right to forgo participating in the best NBA draft lottery in… Read more »
Tried telling ya’ll that Bynum signing was an asset regardless of how his time in Cleveland played out…pumped for this trade! Way to go, CG!
Could this be a subtle tank move? Try to get the best collection of players that can’t shoot.
I hate this. Just terrible
@Hot Sauce, that is the whole point! We gave up nearly nothing for Deng. We do not need more young end-of-the-bench types…
KJ . I like how you think.
I’m just glad they are going to hopefully put a non-pitiful product on the floor. Starters: Kyrie, Miles, Deng, Thompson, Varejao Bench Mob: Delly, Dion, Jack, Clark, Bennett, Zeller. I mean that looks like an actual roster now. This just in, Deng is pissed as he is now the highest paid player on the roster and will henceforth be responsible for buying dinner.
A bit more context here: the Cavs had seven (yes seven!) 2nd round picks in the next 3 drafts before this trade. Giving up two 2nd round picks is thus basically meaningless. And the Sacto pick may well end up being a 2nd rounder in like 2040.
Agreed, David. Chicago has possibly the the worst medical staff in pro sports. http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/66139178/
To think last week everyone was enjoying killing Grant for his supposed “failed” experiment of signing Bynum. Brilliant use of assets.
I am ecstatic at this trade. The Cavs all of the sudden have a legitimate starting five! Who woulda thought.
Also, underrated point that Deng may really love having our training staff and the Cleveland Clinic. The staff in Chicago seriously endangered his life.
Vesus I was half joking but the guy trades like some sort of maestro.
“So we won’t be in the lottery, so what according to this blog Chris Grant sucks at drafting.”
Yup. Anyone who thinks Grant is terrible at drafting should be happy.
I am ecstatic. This is the time when you start making moves to move more towards a winning culture. So we won’t be in the lottery, so what according to this blog Chris Grant sucks at drafting. We are going to be much better the rest of the year. The only reason anyone should be mad is because their chances of the Cavs calling you and asking for you to play SF for them is gone. The every Cav should look at this move and say wow they think enough of me to not involve me in a deal, and… Read more »
Pretty good tweet from Polk:
Mike Polk Jr. @mikepolkjr 1m
BREAKING: Source says Andrew Bynum is “tired of Chicago”. Has asked to be traded. #Cavs
Extend and tank?
This will be a solid tryout for the team to see what we can do with a legitimate SF (and an All-Star caliber one at that) on the roster. At the end of the season, if we gel and are playing well, then overpay to keep Deng and start making a run. If it doesn’t work out, you;re in the same position as now (except w/a shittier draft pick). I think I wanted to tank at this point and land a top 5 pick but – fuck it. Florida State (I’m an alum) just won the NCG so I’m pumped.… Read more »
Agreed. The Kings are going to suck forever. And the Cavs have a ton of future picks anyway. Also, the Cavs can extend Deng.
Raoul – Because Sacto is in the West, they play a brutal schedule. It will be tough for them to climb out of the bottom 10 any time soon. That pick is really not worth much.
That pick was a good asset.
One more thing – look how terrible the East is. The Cavs could absolutely win a playoff series in this conference, presuming that Deng makes them appreciably better and Varejao stays healthy.
I think this is a rental. Deng is going to be a on contender or make a lot of money like Al Jefferson? We can’t afford to overpay with the contracts we have now. I also think the Sacto pick is top 12 protected this year. We could possibly get 13 or 14th pick. Not bad for a team needing to develop potential role players.
A high lottery pick was never in the cards. For better or worse, they are determined to make the playoffs this year and I’m glad. The best course of action for this team was always to make a playoff push this year and try to convince Lebron or some other top FA to sign in the offseason. Great move by Grant….we won’t miss the Sacramento pick since we still have future 1st round picks from Miami and Memphis coming.
My initial reaction is that this is a long shot to be a good thing:
1. What are the chances that Deng walks next summer, or the Cavs totally overpay him, thus ruining any payroll flexibility? Surely more than 50%
2. Very likely, with Deng, the Cavs make it to the playoffs for a first round exit, and miss the best draft lottery ever.
3. Chicago tanks and gets a top player in the lottery plus a good pick if Sac wins a few next year.
I hope I am wrong. Definately like it better than Gasol.
AHHHHH YEAH! I had been wanting Deng since last year. Stoked about the trade. Not are if they will resign him or what. They just got a ton better!!!
One catch here: LeBron will have to backup Deng when he signs with us in the offseason.
Have to feel for the guy. He’s been in Chicago for almost 10 years. Can’t be easy to say goodbye.
Did the Cavs really just get Luol Deng for Andrew Bynum’s contract, and 3 second rounders? Hope that $20 million is worth it, Mr. Buss.
I can’t get over this. Deng is a legitimate two-way player at the weakest position on our team. And we gave up nothing of substance for him.
Very nice. To say the least.
Now the question the Cavs will have: extend Deng or let him get to free agency?
Amazing! That Sacto Pick will never be a 1st rounder due to all of the protections it has. So we basically gave up a subset of the bevy of 2nd rounders we had and Bynum for Deng. Dang!
This deal really hinges on whether we will have to overpay Deng to keep him, which is likely…but let’s all revel in the end of the Gee/Clark era!
This is a miracle trade for the Cavs. Seriously, what a trade! Chris Grant – you’re allowed out of the dog house. Finally, a starting SF!
I’d throw in the Memphis pick for Tom Thibodeau