Finally

The Bulls decide to do something. Chicago signs Luol Deng to a 6 year $71M deal. They had to do something. There was no way that both Deng and Gordon sign one year tenders and play and the Bulls be successful. I'm not going to sit here and say that Deng is Kobe or LeBron or Wade, but he is the best that the Bulls have. Yes, Gordon leads the team (and has led the team) in scoring the past 3 years, but that's his only job, shoot the rock. He only averaged 1.6 more points per game than Deng (18.6 to 17) last year, but Deng brings so much more to the table. So, the Bulls have this battle won, now we'll see what they can do with Gordon. Is there a team out there that would sign and trade for him with a 6 year deal in the $70M range? Not sure, but the Bulls need to get something for him.

The Houston Rockets trade Bobby Jackson, Donte Green, and a 1st round pick in 2009 to the Sacramento Kings for Ron Artest. Talk about a good deal for both teams. Bobby Jackson returns home to a team where he enjoyed lots of success in the 90's, Donte Green gets an opportunity to play in an uptempo system that will allow him to show his talents, without having to be the number 1 scoring option. The 2009 pick will probably be late first round, but the Kings are rebuilding and they need some young bodies. The Rockets get the enigmatic Ron Ron. He's played for Adelman before so there is hope that he can keep Ron Ron straight. This adds a level of toughness and some more scoring for a team that needs help outside of T-Mac and Yao. I think the crying you hear is Kobe crying in LA (he's in China right now). He's going to be guarded by Ron Ron AND Battier in the same game, and we thought Bruce Bowen was tough on him. Add to the fact that the Lakers were in the mix to get Artest, so Kobe's tears are twofold. This definitely moves the Rockets up a rung or two in the West hierarchy.

Atlanta signs Randolph Morris to a 2 year $1.7M deal. This is the kid from Kentucky who left in the middle of the school year to sign with the Knicks. Not sure what he has done since, but hey he's making about $850K a year. He is from Georgia, so he should have some hometown support. I guess this is the way that you make up for losing Josh Childress?