Bulls star is in last year of his contract.
Chicago Bulls star Luol Deng has admitted that he would like to end his NBA career with the franchise despite disappointment over the summer.
The 28-year-old is in the last year of his six-year deal worth $71m, and acknowledged on Wednesday that he was disappointed that talks over a new deal didn’t begin this past summer.
Nevertheless, he remains an important piece of coach Tom Thibodeau’s roster and will be eyeing an NBA championship this season despite the disappointing start to the campaign.
“I definitely want to stay here,” Deng said according to ESPN. “I would love to play here my whole career.”
However, he has conceded that he has no control over the situation as ultimately it will be the decision of the Bulls as to whether or not he receives an offer of a new deal.
Deng admits that the experience of being in the league for so long has him better prepared for the situation which could result in him being available as a free agent next summer.
The small forward has been selected as an All-Star the past two years but is off to the worst start in some time so far this season.
Although he has insisted that the lack of contract talks have not affected his game, he is averaging just 13.7 points per game, his lowest average since his rookie season, while also suffering career lows in both field goal percentage (.409) and rebounds (5.0).
Chicago as a whole have also been struggling as they currently sit at 1-3 for the season after the loss to the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night, and with Derrick Rose returning at point guard it appears as though the starting line-up may need time to gel again.
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