Luol Deng Update: Olympics More Important Than Just Gold Medals

The Chicago Bulls All-Star PF Luol Deng may be going against many fans' wishes this offseason, but he has little doubt he is making the right choice. Deng is foregoing offseason surgery on his injured wrist so that he can participate in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

According to Deng, his decision to delay the surgery was not only for the Olympics, but the better of the Bulls:

"My whole thing is, when I had the wrist injury I really didn't want to do the surgery because I felt we had the team -- and I still think we did -- to win it all," Deng said. "Unfortunately, things just didn't go right. We had a lot of injuries throughout the season. When I had my injury I told the Bulls I was going to hold off from surgery because I felt like we had a chance to win but also that I still wanted to play in the Olympics."

And for Deng, playing in the Olympics was the only way he pay back England, the nation that gave his family asylum when they fled Sudan, without diverting from his charity work from Sudan -- making the Olympics a one-of-a-kind opportunity for Deng:

"Much as I wanted to please Chicago and Chicago Bulls fans, I just hope they understand if I don't play in these Olympics, it will haunt me for the rest of my life. Giving something back is something that comes from my family."

For more, stick with SB Nation Chicago. For more on the Bulls, head over to Blog a Bull. For additional news, notes and analysis from around the NBA, visit SB Nation's NBA news hub.

Luol Deng Rumors: Coach Tom Thibodeau Says Forward May Not Have Surgery

Luol Deng Trade Rumors Could Heat Up As 2012 NBA Draft Approaches

Make no mistake Chicago Bulls fans, the trade rumors involving Luol Deng are mostly about money. The Bulls are in flux after Derrick Rose's ACL injury, and Luol Deng's uncertain wrist issues don't help matters, but the harsher luxury tax set for 2013-14 is really driving the trade market heading into the 2012 NBA Draft. Mike Prada of SB Nation gives all the gory details of why players like Rudy Gay, Luol Deng and Pau Gasol are the subject of trade rumors, and his analysis of the Deng situation puts everything into the proper perspective.

With Deng slated to make roughly $27.5 million over the next two seasons and the Bulls committed to Deng, Rose, Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah for $57.4 million in 2013-14, something has to give. As Prada explains, Deng could be traded if another team is willing to take on salary and provide Chicago with some salary cap relief:

Which trade partners make sense? The Bulls unsurprisingly rejected the Golden State Warriors' advances -- with $62 million committed this year and $55 million in 2013-14, theWarriors don't offer much payroll help for Chicago. That leaves several teams that think they are closer to contention than they realize as part of the proceedings. Squads like the Kings (picking No. 5, about $11.8 million in cap room this year before holds), Raptors (No. 8, $10.3 million), Hornets (No. 10, $20.3 million) and Suns (No. 13, $25.7 million) make more sense as trading partners for the Bulls, due to their combination of a lottery pick and cap space to absorb Deng's salary and provide the Bulls with instant savings.

For more, stick with SB Nation Chicago. For more on the Bulls, head over to Blog a Bull. For additional news, notes and analysis from around the NBA, visit SB Nation's NBA news hub.

Luol Deng Rumors: Bulls Have Reportedly Told Deng He's Not Being Dealt To Warriors

Chicago Bulls forward Luol Deng still may be traded before Thursday's NBA Draft, but Yahoo's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Monday that the Golden State Warriors can be crossed off the list of potential trade partners. According to Wonjarowski, the Bulls have told Deng that they won't be dealing him to the Bay Area.

The Bulls have privately assured Luol Deng that there's "no chance" of a deal sending him to the Warriors, league source tells Y!

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) June 25, 2012

If Deng does indeed stay in Chicago, he and the franchise will undoubtedly have to smooth their relationship over. The rumors of a Deng trade have come in the wake of Deng's insistence on playing in the 2012 Olympics against the wishes of Chicago's front office.

For more, stick with SB Nation Chicago. For more on the Bulls, head over to Blog a Bull. Additional news, notes and analysis from around the NBA, visit SB Nation's NBA news hub.

NBA Trade Rumors: Bulls' Trade Offer To Golden State Includes Luol Deng, According To Report

According to a report from The Telegraph, Luol Deng was part of a trade package offered to the Golden State Warriors in return for the No. 7 overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, Andris Biedrins and Dorell Wright.

Following his decision to play for Great Britain despite a wrist tendon injury, the Bulls General Manager Gar Forman, who called Deng in from holiday for a meeting earlier this month, is understood to have offered the Warriors Deng and the 29th pick in the NBA draft on Thursday for centre Andris Bierdrins, small forward Dorrell Wright [sic] and the seventh pick in the draft.

Related: NBA Trade Rumors 2012: Luol Deng Says Trade Wouldn't Surprise Him

Deng averaged 14 points and 5.9 rebounds per game during the 2011-12 season.

For more, stick with SB Nation Chicago. For more on the Bulls, head over to Blog a Bull. Additional news, notes and analysis from around the NBA, visit SB Nation's NBA news hub.

NBA Trade Rumors 2012: Luol Deng Says Trade Wouldn't Surprise Him

With rumors swirling, Chicago Bulls small forward Luol Deng says that he wouldn't be surprised if the only team he's ever played for ultimately trades him this summer, as Ian Whittell of ESPN Chicago reports. While training in Texas with Great Britain's national team in anticipation of this year's Olympics, Deng discussed the possibility of a deal:

I believe there is always to some extent truth behind rumors. 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... As much as I want to stay on the team -- I love Chicago, I love the Bulls -- at the same time, I know the business part of it. Sooner or later, all the rumors are going to come up.

The 27-year-old has been a key part of the Bulls for years, but he's coming off a bit of an off year. Starting in 54 games, Deng averaged 15.3 PPG, 6.5 RPG and 2.9 APG, but he shot just 41 percent from the field, far below his career mark of 46 percent. The latest rumor has Deng going to Golden State for a package based around the No. 7 overall pick.

For more, stick with SB Nation Chicago. For more on the Bulls, head over to Blog a Bull. Additional news, notes and analysis from around the NBA, visit SB Nation's NBA news hub.

NBA Trade Rumors: Luol Deng And Golden State Warriors Could Be A Match

Chicago Bulls Rumors: Luol Deng Could Be On The Trade Block

The Bulls are reportedly interested in trading into the draft lottery. SB Nation Chicago editor Ricky O'Donnell can't think of anything that would be more out of character for the franchise.