Update:
Sam Amick of USA TODAY reports that there are no options on Deng’s contract. He will earn the full value of his deal.
Original Post Follows:
In the early, early hours Saturday morning, the Los Angeles Lakers reached a deal with their second free agent, inking Luol Deng to a four year, $72 million deal, according to Shams Charania of The Vertical.
Free agent Luol Deng has reached agreement on a four-year, $72 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, league sources tell The Vertical.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 2, 2016
Last season with the Heat, Deng put up 12.3 points, six rebounds and 1.9 assists in 74 games, stepping up in the absence of Chris Bosh as a small ball four. For his career, Deng is a 33.4% three-point shooter.
Deng is a player the Lakers have long been interested in, dating back to the mid 2000s when the Lakers and Bulls were in talks of a Kobe Bryant trade.
His versatility gives the Lakers’ options to either play him as a small forward, his natural position, or a small ball four, a role he should fit nicely into. Most importantly, Deng can serve as a fantastic mentor for a young Laker team and fellow Duke alum Brandon Ingram.
On the downside, Deng is 31 years old and has gradually declined statistically the last four years, having racked up over 30,000 playoff and postseason minutes. Deng has also battled a handful of injuries in his career as well, adding more miles to his body. With that in mind, this contract likely has at least one opt out and it would not be surprising if there were multiple, though nothing has been reported as of yet.
Nonetheless, for a young team, Deng will serve as a fantastic mentor and will still have something left in the tank the next couple seasons.
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