Link:The Chicago Bulls are off to a slow start once again, with Luol Deng, Ben Gordon and Kirk Hinrich all struggling.
Both Deng and Gordon turned down contract extensions last week, and both have been included in trade rumors for Laker superstar Kobe Bryant.
It's impossible not to wonder if Deng's and Gordon's struggles are related to their decisions to turn down multi-million dollar contract extensions and their mention in frequent Kobe Bryant trade rumors, writes Chicago Tribune columnist K.C. Johnson.
Both players continue to offer the right words. But with confirmation that Deng turned down an increased five-year offer worth nearly $57.5 million, speculation about regrets is legitimate.
"The contract and the trade rumors, I try to focus on my game," Deng said. "I don't want to blame me struggling on something like that. When I'm on the floor, I'm supposed to perform and produce. And I haven't done that the last two games."
Said Gordon: "In the NBA, there are distractions all the time. You have to play through those things. You can't let them get into your head and affect your game. When you're on the court, that's the only time you can block everything out. We have to play, have fun and work hard."
