Deng returning home today to face Bulls
Luol Deng will play at the United Center for the first time as a visiting NBA player when the Bulls host Miami this afternoon.
It's kind of a strange occasion from the Bulls' perspective. Deng left town a little more than a year ago in a trade to Cleveland, then signed with the Heat as a free agent last summer.
Deng's return should be a big deal, but this doesn't feel like a particularly important date on the Bulls' schedule. The Bulls do plan to honor Deng during today's game with a video tribute, which is certainly well-deserved.
Deng is the Bulls' fourth all-time leading scorer, trailing only Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Bob Love - three guys who have their numbers hanging from the rafters at the UC. For some reason, it doesn't seem as though Deng belongs even on the Bulls' wall of legends outside their locker room, which includes photos of guys such as Norm Van Lier, Artis Gilmore and Toni Kukoc.
Why is that?
Team success was sort of a mixed bag when Deng was here. The Bulls reached the playoffs eight times, getting as far as the conference finals in 2011. Three times Deng was knocked out of the playoffs with an injury.
Deng made the all-star team but always felt more like a solid starter than a star with the Bulls. He took a few last-second shots, but that job generally fell to Ben Gordon or Derrick Rose.
During his 10 seasons, Deng was the Bulls' leading scorer twice - in each of his final two seasons with the team when Rose was sidelined with knee injuries.
Deng always was popular with his teammates and appreciated by fans, but he seemed to frustrate the front office. Maybe that was because he was fantastic during the 2007 playoffs, averaging 22.2 points at age 22 and never got back to that level. Maybe it was because of the injuries or missed practices or inconsistent play.
Deng's departure was strange. Not so much that he was traded, because the writing was on the wall with Deng set to enter free agency. For some reason, the Bulls felt the need to make him a final, take-it-or-leave-it offer, knowing he'd turn it down.
It always seemed clear the Bulls were ready to move on and spend their money on Jimmy Butler or a future free agent, who turned out to be Pau Gasol.
Deng acted insulted by that final Bulls offer of $30 million over three years, then accepted a smaller deal - two years, $20 million - to join the Heat. Replacing LeBron James figured to be a thankless task, but Deng seems to be enjoying himself in Florida.
He spoke to the South Florida Sun Sentinel about his impending return to Chicago.
"Obviously, I was there since I just turned 19. I left at 28, so I was there a long time. So there's definitely going to be emotion," Deng said. "I think it's more of seeing the people that really work at the United Center, more than anything. I've seen my teammates; I've seen the coaching staff."
Deng has played against the Bulls twice - last season in Cleveland and on Dec. 14 in Miami - but never at the UC.
"Every athlete, you wish you could play in one organization forever," he said. "At the end of the day, it's really business. I enjoyed my time there. I really understand, as a GM, it's your job to do what's best for the team. And if the GM really thought that's the best move for the team, then I, as a player, I've got to just deal with it.
"But, definitely, I wish it would have ended at a better term. Not that it's really this bad taste between us, but I just wish I had more time."
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