The Cavaliers acquired Luol Deng from the Chicago Bulls late Monday night for Bynum and three future draft picks, beating the deadline to guarantee his full contract for the season.
Along with Bynum, who had recently been suspended indefinitely by the Cavaliers for conduct detrimental to the team, the Cavaliers also sent the Bulls a first-round pick, two second-rounders, and gave Chicago the right to swap first-round choices in 2015 if the Cavs are not in the lottery.
Deng has been an All-Star the last two seasons. He will be a free agent after this season.
"Luol reflects all that we are striving for in building our team," Cavs general manager Chris Grant said in a statement. "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."
Bynum signed a two-year, $24 million contract with the Cavs in July, but only $6 million of the $12.5 million he was scheduled to earn this season was guaranteed if he was wasn't still on Cleveland's payroll by Jan. 7.
KOBE PROGRESS
There was a recent report in which Derrick Rose, who is locked into a five-year deal worth more than $90 million, was said to fear the Chicago Bulls' plans to unload salary and rebuild.
With this New York Daily News story that Chicago could trade Luol Deng and amnesty Carlos Boozer, it appears the Bulls are headed in that direction (via EyeOnBasketball).
The Bulls' plan has solid rationale behind it, as Deng is set to become a free agent this summer and Chicago could lose him for nothing if they don't move him before the Feb. 20 trade deadline. Also, Boozer, who has performed well under his deal for years, is set to make $16.8 million next season and does not fit the Bulls' defensive approach, which has led him to spend time on the bench in clutch moments.
Much of Deng and Boozer's best work has been done with Rose out of the lineup, as he has missed time for a torn ACL and later meniscus injury. Of course, even if Deng and Boozer are no longer on the team, the Bulls still have center Joakim Noah and emerging guard Jimmy Butler.
If these moves come to pass, Rose and Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau, who don't really seem too happy as is, will have to suffer in the interim.
FIRE STARTER
The game between the San Antonio Spurs and Minnesota Timberwolves that was originally scheduled to be played in Mexico City on Dec. 4 will now be played in Minnesota on April 8.
The league made the announcement on Monday. The game was postponed in December when a generator malfunctioned and filled the arena in Mexico City with smoke about 45 minutes before tipoff. The game was part of the NBA's ongoing efforts to increase the league's international reach.
But logistics and scheduling prevented the league from replaying the game in Mexico City.
The Timberwolves were giving up a home game to be a part of the event, so the league moved the game back to Target Center.
Season ticket holders will be given priority to purchase tickets for the game.
Contributors: The Associated Press, Sean Deveney, DeAntae Prince
