Late last night the Andrew Bynum deal was finally done — and no, Pau Gasol was not involved. Andrew Bynum was traded to the Bulls for Luol Deng & draft picks. Hit the jump for full details…
Via ESPN:
In a move that has the Cleveland Cavaliers thinking about the present and the Chicago Bullsthinking about the future, the two teams executed a major trade late Monday night. The Bulls are sending two-time All-Star Luol Deng to the Cavs for Andrew Bynum, three future draft picks and major salary savings.
The Cavs, looking to end a three-year playoff drought, are attempting to make a run by acquiring Deng to shore up the small forward position. They parlayed Bynum’s favorable contract into a piece to put next to young guards Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters.
…The Bulls, who are facing a lost season after a bevy of injuries, including a season-ending knee injury toDerrick Rose, are focusing on the upcoming draft and next season. Chicago plan to waive Bynum by 5 p.m. Tuesday and clear his $12.3 million salary off their books. That will enable the Bulls to get below the luxury tax threshold, which, combined with the savings from not having to pay Deng the balance of his $14.3 million salary, will save the team in more than $20 million.
…In addition to the savings, the Bulls got a future first-round draft pick owed to the Cavs by theSacramento Kings from a 2011 trade for J.J. Hickson. The Bulls will get the Kings’ pick if it falls outside the top 12 in 2014 or outside the top 10 picks in 2015, 2016 or 2017. The Bulls also got the 2015 and 2016 second-round picks the Portland Trail Blazers owed the Cavs. In a final piece, the Bulls will be able to swap draft positions with the Cavs in 2015 as long as the Cavs’ draft pick is outside the top 14 picks.
(Story Continues…)
-Lead photo via SI
