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Deng is free !

by A-Rich (U12098751) 29 August 2008

The Chicago Bulls ace was on a Transatlantic flight late Thursday, heading to London, although time will not allow him to join up with the GB squad on their current visit to Turkey.

Deng will complete some formalities over his paperwork and the Bulls still have to officially put pen to paper to give their approval to the plan.

The minute Deng, 23, was left off the NBA's group insurance policy, the agreement between the NBA and FIBA that requires all international players to be released to play for their countries went out of the window.

And even though GB have now insured Deng's back against injury, the Bulls can still technically veto him playing.

However, Chicago have given their verbal commitment to release Deng and their signature to the agreement should be a routine matter.

GB also, of course, have to lodge the money with the insurance company's bank and wait for it to clear, which could add another day to the process.

But all parties appear optimistic that there is no danger of Deng missing the opening tip in Tel Aviv on Wednesday, even if he will not have had chance to practise with the team.

The successful outcome of this sad saga marks a major triumph for BB and a sign of how far the sport's administration has come in this country following the dark days of previous national governing bodies.

It marks a masterstroke in organisation and has avoided a potential disaster for the programme and the sport in the UK.

Had Deng been unable to play this summer or, as had been feared, in other summers to come, GB ran the risk of relegation from the A Division of the Euro Championships in 2009.

And had that occurred, the earliest GB could have been promoted back to the A Division would have been the summer of 2011, meaning the team would not have had time to fulfil the minimum requirement needed to play in the 2012 Olympic Games.

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comment by fanofthegame (U3261879)

posted Aug 30, 2008

Jog on? Terrible catchphrase sweetness

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comment by RogerMasonIsClutch (U2438990)

posted Aug 31, 2008

Okay - if you have any decent contribution to this thread which is actually about Luol Deng playing for GB, then please share them other wise please just stop wasting space on here.
You are just being incredibly immature, so yeah mate grow up.

Apart from that, what does everyone think of GBs chances of getting to EuroBasket. And if we do get there do you think we have any chance to really compete? My initial instinct would of course be no, but of course we may have Ben Gordon by then and you never know...

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comment by Addicktum (U1767616)

posted Sep 3, 2008

see how we go against Israel first before I pass further comment...hope we don't get thrashed.

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comment by MGUK82 (U4314603)

posted Sep 3, 2008

Good luck to GB vs Israel today - annoyed that no TV channel in the UK wants to screen the match though. What's up with that?

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comment by shades846 (U2876921)

posted Sep 3, 2008

yes mguk82 i agree. why is there no TV coverage on eurosport 2 or something?

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comment by TomSmithUK (U7440772)

posted Sep 3, 2008

Ideally Ben Gordon will sign up, how he still harbours thoughts of playing for Team USA, with the depth they have is beyond me. I know he can't until the contract issue is sorted out (Personally I see him ending up in the Euroleague), but if he did, he would be a good foil for Deng, as you have an established NBA-3 point specialist (NBA line is furthur out than the FIBA one).

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comment by FletchDaWretch (U13182979)

posted Sep 3, 2008

Definately think you're right about Gordon and the EuroLeague. With the state of the Dollar right now he could get a better offer than the qualifying offer he will get from the Bulls.
Ben would be great in the GB team, his ability from the 3 would be highlighted with the closer FIBA 3.
With Gordon, I can't see any NBA teams willing to pay big for someone who is very one dimensional. Its not like the guy can dish dimes or monster the glass. He shoots. A lot. Just what the GB team need, but not thew Bulls, or most other NBA teams.
With Deng, I hope none of this insurance stuff causes any issues and he can play, even I would root for the team, and I'm Irish.

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