Warriors Scouting Luol Deng’s Team Britain Practices

Over the past week the Bulls have supposedly ramped up their attempts to trade into the Draft Lottery and the latest rumor is that Luol Deng is being shopped to the Golden State Warriors for the seventh overall pick int he draft and some players.

That rumor is quickly beginning to look more and more like the truth as we approach this Thursday’s NBA Draft.

"But remember, the Bulls are looking to dump salary if they make a trade, not add more to the payroll. Jerry Reinsdorf is notorious for his hatred of getting into the luxury tax and a trade with Golden State wouldn’t ease that tension. This might be the most damning evidence against a trade with Golden State."

Not only are the Chicago Bulls not denying the rumor but Speedy Claxton — a scout for the Warriors — is following Team Britain so he can get a good look at one guy in particular. The former NBA guard was in attendance for Britain’s practice at the Toyota Center on Sunday afternoon.

To further the rumors along, Deng himself isn’t even denying the rumors and has said he wouldn’t be at all surprised if the Bulls shipped him off the West Coast before the draft.

“If it’s not true, a GM could always come out and say it’s not true. But if a GM doesn’t come out and say it, there are probably talks,” Deng said. “I believe there is always to some extent truth behind rumors.”

There is also some speculation that Bulls brass made peace with moving Deng when the two sides disagreed over Deng’s involvement in this year’s Olympics in London.

The Daily Telegraph in Britain is stating that Deng angered the Bulls with his decision to forego wrist surgery until after the Olympics. Deng however remains upbeat — and as the Telegraph put it — philosophical about all the rumors.

“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.”

Deng did however downplay the correlation between his decison to play in the Olympics and the recent trade rumors that could send Dorell Wright and Andris Biedrins to the Bulls along with that 7th overall pick.

However he didn’t downplay it to the point where it squashed the speculation and his open ended response didn’t necessarily restore faith to the theory that the Bulls are miffed Deng is choosing his country over them.

“Me and [coach Tom Thibodeau] have a very close relationship. I spoke to [GM] Gar [Forman], I spoke to [VP of basketball operations John] Paxson, and it’s one of those things you don’t want to bring up.”

Claxton’s presence at Sunday’s workout confirms that the Warriors are interested but nothing beyond that is known. At the moment it appears that aforementioned package of Wright, Biedrins and the 7th pick but that could very well change.

If that is the deal that gets done then Wright would immediately step into Deng’s role as the starting small forward while Biedrins would provide depth on the Bench Mob. Biedrins hasn’t wowed critics with his play but if there is a guy that can turn him around it’s Tom Thibodeau.

But remember, the Bulls are looking to dump salary if they make a trade, not add more to the payroll. Jerry Reinsdorf is notorious for his hatred of getting into the luxury tax and a trade with Golden State wouldn’t ease that tension. This might be the most damning evidence against a trade with Golden State.

So Deng fans, it’s not a done deal by any means yet.

As we get closer and closer to the draft expect these trade rumors with the Deng and other teams that have cap space to heat up.