NBA Draft rumors: Wizards deny discussing trade for Luol Deng, according to report

The Wizards will not be trading the No. 3 pick for Luol Deng, according to a report.

By Mike Prada Jun 24, 2013, 3:19pm EDT

In what should come as a sigh of relief to most, the Washington Wizards are denying a rumor that suggested they were discussing trading Emeka Okafor and the No. 3 pick to the Chicago Bulls for Luol Deng. Via Michael Lee of the Washington Post:

The Washington Wizards do not intend to deal the No. 3 overall pick to the Chicago Bulls in a deal for all-star forward Luol Deng, according to a league source with knowledge of the team's thinking.

A different source told Lee that the Wizards intend to make a selection at No. 3, though they have talked to several teams about different trades.

The rumor, which came from ESPN's Marc Stein, had the Wizards giving up way too much for Deng, a free agent after the season, so it's no surprise that it has been shot down. Lee's colleague Mike Wise tweeted that the Bulls were simply trying to drive up Deng's price.

@ESPNSteinLine @funnydanny @TrueHoop Already hearing Bulls are trying to up Deng's value and nothing to it, for what it's worth.
— Mike Wise (@MikeWiseguy) June 24, 2013