Let's talk some hoops.

Jimmy Butler's first half for the Bulls this season:

46% FG, 34% 3P, 83% FT, 5.8 RPG, 3.2 APG, 1.8 STL, 20.4 PPG.

"All-Star" "#1 Option" "Most Valuable" "Stud" "Max Contract"

Luol Deng's first half for the Bulls last season:

45% FG, 27% 3P, 81% FT, 6.9 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1 STL, 19.0 PPG

"Trade him" "just a guy" "Not worth $10M a season, let alone $14M"

Also keep in mind that Jimmy Butler's numbers come in a season where the Bulls have more offensive threats, making it hard to double team any one guy. Jimmy Butler is able to get easier shots based on Dunleavy, Mirotic, Rose, Brooks creating space while bigs can't leave Pau, Taj, and Noah down low.

Luol Deng is an old 29...will be 30. Remember he came into the league at 19. It took Deng years to get to that point. Butler is new. Why not go with the newer, younger option?

Current Deng stats:

48% FG, 37% 3P, 75% FT, 5.1 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1 STL, 14.3 PPG

Luol has a little African in him, not in a bad way, but he’s a guy who would have a nice store out front, but sell you counterfeit stuff out of the back.

FT attempts are already reflected in ppg. There aren't 'better' points and 'worse' points. You could argue too many FTA is a result of risky play. Haven't Lebron, Westbrook, Cousins, Harden and Butler all been hurt this year and last?

Deng is a two time all star. Last year Deng is comparable to this year Butler. And butler has not improved every year. Last year was a regression. Next year could be with the possible emergence of Snell.

FT attempts are already reflected in ppg. There aren't 'better' points and 'worse' points. You could argue too many FTA is a result of risky play. Haven't Lebron, Westbrook, Cousins, Harden and Butler all been hurt this year and last?

Terrible thought. Real bad.

Par for the course with this guy. Deng has also had a number of injuries over the yrs. Are his injuries due to non-risky play since he doesn't go to the line much?

Terrible thought. Real bad.

So those players were not all injured, costing their teams victories by missing time? I must have imagined it.

Was it Nas that told me I was wrong in thinking Bulls fans undervalued Deng's contributions to the Bulls? Nas, are you reading this thread?

I was all in on Deng before you came around. I saw what he brought to the game. It wasn't always something that will show up on a stat sheet. Jimmy Butler is very similar but much younger and better now.

I was the Deng fan of the board before you arrived.

Deng's first four years:

48% FG, 27% 3P, 3.7 FTA 76% FT, 6.4 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1 STL, 0.5 BLK, 15.6 PPG. 33.3 MPG

Butler's first four years:

43.8% FG, 32% 3P, 4.1 FTA, 80% FT, 4.2 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.3 STL, 0.6 BLK, 11.2 PPG, 29.2 MPG

I was a Duke fan in high school. Not sure you're correct on this.

FT attempts are already reflected in ppg. There aren't 'better' points and 'worse' points. You could argue too many FTA is a result of risky play. Haven't Lebron, Westbrook, Cousins, Harden and Butler all been hurt this year and last?

Deng is a two time all star. Last year Deng is comparable to this year Butler. And butler has not improved every year. Last year was a regression. Next year could be with the possible emergence of Snell.

FT attempts are already reflected in ppg. There aren't 'better' points and 'worse' points. You could argue too many FTA is a result of risky play. Haven't Lebron, Westbrook, Cousins, Harden and Butler all been hurt this year and last?

Deng is a two time all star. Last year Deng is comparable to this year Butler. And butler has not improved every year. Last year was a regression. Next year could be with the possible emergence of Snell.