Brooklyn Nets interested in Luol Deng? Hard to imagine

It's unlikely, probably in the extreme but Comcast Sports Chicago reports that the Nets are among seven or more NBA teams who've expressed interest in Luol Deng, who the Bulls are seeking to trade.

Aggrey Sam of CSN Chicago wrote Friday...

His upcoming status has resulted in the likes of the Cavaliers, Mavericks, Lakers, Raptors, Spurs, Grizzlies and Nets, among others, already expressing interest in Deng, according to league sources.

What's the "upcoming status?" The 6'9" small forward is a free agent at season's end so whoever gets him gets a player they will have to convince to stay.  He's making $14.75 million this season.  Moreover, the Bulls want a young player and/or a pick in return for the 28-year-old Deng. Deng is injury prone and has missed seven straight  games to a left Achilles injury. Still, he is a proven scorer and averaging 19.6 and 7.0 this season.

The Nets could conceivably trade one of their Boston acquisitions to make the salaries match ... or give up on Brook Lopez's foot, but the earliest first round pick they have available isn't until 2020. How far away is that? A player who will be taken in that draft is currently in seventh grade.

So bottom line: without a huge surprise or multi-team deal currently unimaginable, it's highly unlikely.

• Bulls' Luol Deng's upcoming free agency can't be ignored - Aggrey Sam - Comcast Sports Net