The New Mr. Untouchable
In the mid-seventies, Nicky Barnes was one of the most notorious criminals in New York City, if not the entire United States. He was living the high life and nobody could stop him. He was so big that he made the cover of the New York Times magazine which dubbed him "Mr. Untouchable" because he beat so many cases.
Then in 1978, it all came crashing down. Barnes was arrested and went from the Crown Prince (or clown prince depending on who you believe) of the drug game to persona non grata as he snitched on over 100 of his former partners in crime.
30 years later, we might have someone who's lived up to the rise and fall of Nicky Barnes. That man is Luol Deng.
While Deng never committed larceny, many people claimed that the Bulls did when they acquired a #7 from the Suns for a future 1st rounder that would later end up being the #21 pick (a pick which the Suns then proceeded to trade for the 54th pick). Deng didn't take long to make his name and became a rising star in the league. The sky was the limit. In fact, he was so good that he became the Bulls' Mr. Untouchable. You name a player, John Paxson wouldn't deal Deng for them. Garnet, Gasol, Kobe, you name it (although some rumors said that Kobe nixed any Bulls deal involving Deng because he wouldn't go there if Deng wasn't there.)
While most of these rumors are probably Sam Smith style bull shit, the bottom line is that Jon Paxson wouldn't part with his golden child.
Then 2008 rolled around. The contract negotiations didn't go well and the season went worse. Just as Nicky Barnes snitched on his people, Deng and the Bulls quit on their coach. Scott Skiles was fired and Deng struggled. Now, just a couple of years when Paxson turned down deals for Kevin Garnett and Pau Gasol because Deng was involved, Deng is barely involved in the Bulls offense. There's a new king of Chicago and Deng doesn't seem to fit in the new Derrick Rose-centric system.
So is it time for Chicago to say goodbye to Mr. Untouchable? With the Bobcats looking to unload Gerald Wallace, it might not be such a bad idea. I'm not sure if Deng's stock has dropped to the point that it would be a straight up trade but a draft pick or another player might not be a terrible deal. Perhaps Portland, with more youngster than they know what to do with, could make a move for him. The Clippers and Golden State also have youngsters to move that could help the Bulls transition to the new Rose era.
The bottom line is that, while Luol Deng is by no means done, he isn't going to fulfill his potential if he remains a Chicago Bull.
