Lakers add Deng at discounted price

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed unrestricted free agent Luol Deng to a 4 year contract worth 20.3 million over 4 years.  The exact details of the contract can be found below:

Year 1 - $4,761,019
Year 2 - $4,975,265
Year 3 - $5,189,511
Year 4 - $5,403,757 (player option)
Total - $20,329,551

Lakers GM AK: Luol Deng brings a certain defensive tenacity at the small forward spot that is absolutely essential to being a championship level team in the CSL. Furthermore, we were able to sign him to a very friendly deal.  This whole process with Luol and his agent was nothing short of fantastic.  We're absolutely looking forward to him joining the guys and making a run at this thing.

Many have questioned why the Lakers would make this signing given their acknowledgement of wanting to chase a bigger fish next off-season, but it's quite clear why this happened.  Instant credibility.  Signing Deng rapidly ascends the Lakers to the higher levels of the CSL, and more importantly he's on a very, very manageable deal for the Lakers.

As a standalone beat writer covering the Lakers with many credible sources within the organization, I can say it is still very possible for the Lakers to remain a player in next seasons free agency frenzy; they have multiple plans that easily bring them to the table as a buyer.

I'm sorry, as an outsider (and GM partially) I'm not buying the "easily bring them to the table as a buyer" line.

LA has the 2015 Thunder 1st and 2017 Lakers 1st (worse case) to attach to Redick and perhaps Butler to clear some cap and those picks may as well be 2nd rd picks with the projected success I see from both teams.

Is an "earlier" 2nd rd pick enough to get a rebuilding team like Sacramento or Boston enough to entice them to taking one more yr of salary (which isn't bad at all) but the payoff quite possibly being LeBron to LA? Can't see Sacramento doing that so my suggestion is become best friends with your old rival Celtics but can't see a true Celtic ever helping a Laker.

You may be outta tricks man unless Orlando saves you, maybe Milwaukee.

WillyJakkz (HOU) wrote:I'm sorry, as an outsider (and GM partially) I'm not buying the "easily bring them to the table as a buyer" line.

LA has the 2015 Thunder 1st and 2017 Lakers 1st (worse case) to attach to Redick and perhaps Butler to clear some cap and those picks may as well be 2nd rd picks with the projected success I see from both teams.

Is an "earlier" 2nd rd pick enough to get a rebuilding team like Sacramento or Boston enough to entice them to taking one more yr of salary (which isn't bad at all) but the payoff quite possibly being LeBron to LA? Can't see Sacramento doing that so my suggestion is become best friends with your old rival Celtics but can't see a true Celtic ever helping a Laker.

You may be outta tricks man unless Orlando saves you, maybe Milwaukee.

You're missing the obvious. Deng won't be TR forever, a Deng/Redick/OKC '15 1st won't be hard to move for caproom/expirings and a future 1st/and or prospect. He used that caproom to gain a nice asset he can attach to Reddick to clear 10M + off the books is my guess...which is pretty smart. Gasol expires and maybe LAL grabs the 8th seed which could lead to;

WB/Beal/Butler/Horford 

+ max cap 

look at the forwards in next years FA class

Not taking in contracts. Wanna get rid off wallace myself. Anyway not sure Im around by that time.

Ps: we are planing to give up our rebuild in the middle of next Season. Every rookie will be traded if I stay active. That is a promise.

If i know that pass this i don't remember that luol deng don't have any agencies jesussss.

blackice (ATL) wrote:

WillyJakkz (HOU) wrote:I'm sorry, as an outsider (and GM partially) I'm not buying the "easily bring them to the table as a buyer" line.

LA has the 2015 Thunder 1st and 2017 Lakers 1st (worse case) to attach to Redick and perhaps Butler to clear some cap and those picks may as well be 2nd rd picks with the projected success I see from both teams.

Is an "earlier" 2nd rd pick enough to get a rebuilding team like Sacramento or Boston enough to entice them to taking one more yr of salary (which isn't bad at all) but the payoff quite possibly being LeBron to LA? Can't see Sacramento doing that so my suggestion is become best friends with your old rival Celtics but can't see a true Celtic ever helping a Laker.

You may be outta tricks man unless Orlando saves you, maybe Milwaukee.

You're missing the obvious. Deng won't be TR forever, a Deng/Redick/OKC '15 1st won't be hard to move for caproom/expirings and a future 1st/and or prospect. He used that caproom to gain a nice asset he can attach to Reddick to clear 10M + off the books is my guess...which is pretty smart. Gasol expires and maybe LAL grabs the 8th seed which could lead to;

WB/Beal/Butler/Horford 

+ max cap 

look at the forwards in next years FA class

Who in praytell would trade for Deng/ Redick combo (2 Dukies) of the contending teams that has expirings though?

Certainly not any Western Conference team. Washington may be the only team hard up enough to make that deal since Deng Redick fit in nicely but they may feel like they got burned by the Agent and may not make that move.

Not seeing any teams (from current rosters) to do it is my point, I'm going by roster/ needs not Deng Redick could be an asset approach and I just don't see it.

Is it impossible, no.

WillyJakkz (HOU) wrote:

blackice (ATL) wrote:

WillyJakkz (HOU) wrote:I'm sorry, as an outsider (and GM partially) I'm not buying the "easily bring them to the table as a buyer" line.

LA has the 2015 Thunder 1st and 2017 Lakers 1st (worse case) to attach to Redick and perhaps Butler to clear some cap and those picks may as well be 2nd rd picks with the projected success I see from both teams.

Is an "earlier" 2nd rd pick enough to get a rebuilding team like Sacramento or Boston enough to entice them to taking one more yr of salary (which isn't bad at all) but the payoff quite possibly being LeBron to LA? Can't see Sacramento doing that so my suggestion is become best friends with your old rival Celtics but can't see a true Celtic ever helping a Laker.

You may be outta tricks man unless Orlando saves you, maybe Milwaukee.

You're missing the obvious. Deng won't be TR forever, a Deng/Redick/OKC '15 1st won't be hard to move for caproom/expirings and a future 1st/and or prospect. He used that caproom to gain a nice asset he can attach to Reddick to clear 10M + off the books is my guess...which is pretty smart. Gasol expires and maybe LAL grabs the 8th seed which could lead to;

WB/Beal/Butler/Horford 

+ max cap 

look at the forwards in next years FA class

Who in praytell would trade for Deng/ Redick combo (2 Dukies) of the contending teams that has expirings though?

Certainly not any Western Conference team. Washington may be the only team hard up enough to make that deal since Deng Redick fit in nicely but they may feel like they got burned by the Agent and may not make that move.

Not seeing any teams (from current rosters) to do it is my point, I'm going by roster/ needs not Deng Redick could be an asset approach and I just don't see it.

Is it impossible, no.

We have a full season to play out, it's a fluid situation. BOS posted above that they are trading all their rookies around mid season and they have cap...that's just one team. We'll have to see I guess.