Luol Deng: Once a Bull, Always a Bull

Luol Deng sat in the Lakers locker room Friday while outside his Lakers teammates played his Bulls successors. Deng doesn't play basketball anymore; well, at least in the NBA. He's on the Lakers roster as one of their highest paid players. But as a 32-year-old, 14-year veteran he's not part of the Lakers hoped for renaissance. Signed by the previous management team but with a relatively unwelcome contract averaging about $18 million through 2020, he's been told he won't play again for the Lakers. He's been typically professional, though hopeful for some resolution.

"They made it clear I'm not wanted here," Deng said evenly before the game. "It's been hard. It's not easy not to play. But at…