Lakers trade Deng, look to off-season.

Los Angeles - The Lakers have traded Luol Deng to the Sacramento Kings for forward Robin Lopez and the Los Angeles Clippers 2016 1st round draft pick.  In a move meant as more of a salary dump, Deng was still a positive asset so the Lakers were able to demand a 1st round draft pick in any trade talks.  The Kings were the second team to pony up and offer the pick, but after negotiations faltered with the first team, the Kings were able to seize the opportunity.  

"It's never good to lose a player of the caliber of Luol (Deng), but you know, we have things we look at it, and we have a plan going forward..  This helps us get one step closer to that end-game for us," Lakers GM "AK" said.  

"We want to give Jimmy (Butler) adequate playing time, he's earned it in practice... he's a sharp kid, great defensively especially.  We are very excited to let him loose and see what he brings to the team," "AK" continued.

When asked about trading in-division and still acquiring a 1st "AK" said, "I don't look too much into those things (trading in-division), these guys are all good players in the CSL, they can burn you at any time, what's it matter if they are given another opportunity or two to do so.  Those two games don't typically determine the season, and frankly if we take care of business, why do we have to worry about it?"  "AK" continued, "Gaining a 1st in any year is a good thing, in the CSL those things are like gold man, no matter what pick it is, we like it from that standpoint too."

The Lakers lost on the road last night in San Antonio 108-94, a day before the trade.  Luol Deng played 32 minutes and scored 7 points on 3-9 shooting and 3 turnovers.  Those aren't exactly the numbers you want to see from your starting small forward, especially when the other teams perimeter players are able to have efficient games like last night.  

For what it is worth, Jimmy Butler finished that same game with 10 points, on 4-8 shooting, while chipping in 4 rebounds.

I just don't know..
You told us you had enough CAP to offer LeBron a max and keep Deng. Then you dump a guy you've just acquired for CAP and a pick.. I mean.. Trades are always explainable when you're upgrading your team.. Even if you have to give recently signed players.. But dumping someone who you've just signed to a 4 year deal?

That's why I'm only trading Derrick Williams if I'm upgrading my team and the trade can be well justified as trying to win it all.

Watson, Beal, Butler, Pau and Horford. No bench. Let's see if you can still make the playoffs in this tough Western Conference. I'd say that for acquiring such a big name you must do it, specially the one you're targeting having so much "play for winner", but.. I don't know, I don't handle any negotiations..

Westbrook will be back in plenty of time. Deng was very bad on the court for us, if anything he helped contribute more to losing than anything.

And remember, while players want to play for a winner, many of them team up to be winners. In real life, the Heat weren't exactly "winners" before LeBron came (you have to go back 4 seasons). Sometimes someone is the missing piece, whoever that may be.

Dunno, showing 0 loyalty for a guy who throwed money away to get a deal done ASAP at FA and was highly underpaid...
I just don't know, to me that was not a nice move.

I just don't know why he'd not stay in Indiana if your team misses the POs for the 2nd straight time. But let's see what happens.

You're putting too much hype on getting Bron when your team was ready to compete for something bigger, what if you end up without no one? If everyone's happy with their current situation? Then you've just wasted two years of WB, Beal and Horford's career.

But you said something interesting, LeBron might be the missing piece going forward. Question is if he believes he really is.

Also remember that lots of teams will line up for Bron, Melo, Love, with some great supporting casts too.

And, finally.. What if LeBron picks up his option? :s

EDIT: I don't blame you for trying, at first I thought you had a super chance of having Bron.. But it's just too risky, I'd not give up on fighting for the ring to chase this plan.

Lol there are bigger issues at hand than Deng being traded then me "wasting" someone's years.  Like those players staying healthy.

You just worry about that underachieving OKC team

And I signed Deng to be a much better player than what he's been.  He shouldn't have approached me with a contract if he didn't intend on at least honoring that value. In the end, this is a sim league, trades are going to happen.

LeBron isn't the only free agent who fits here.  Clearing Deng gives me enough space to sign potentially TWO free agents who may be at an all star level of play, instead of a superstar.  I have so much flexibility now.

If there is an agent out there who questions my loyalty to my players, they need to look no further than Westbrook, Beal and Horford as my core pieces. WB has been here literally since day one (I traded for him before CSL season 1).

I would hate to be LeBron's player agent. Good luck with that decision.

Gosh, always those big discussions you Crazy guys!
Need to read it after work ..

Lebron is taking the min to come to ATL.

"Cock to Hawk!"

Anyway, LAL got a future 1st rounder for Deng so this can't just be viewed as a pure salary dump. For SAC they get a wing who can play some small ball 4 as well and defend 3 positions in a pinch. Not too shabby.

I've pay attention to Deng for a while and he just doesn't really produce in this game.
I like the trade for Lakers, because it allows them to free up minutes for Jimmy Butler.

Salary dumping *and* getting a 1st? That's phenomenal return for Deng, and he's going to make the Kings worse in the short-term thanks to his #3 team high scoring rating and suckass shooting numbers.

 There sure is alot of sweating going on in this thread  

Maybe if OKC doesn't trade LeBron they wouldn't have to worry about LA messing up their masterplan of having LeBron sign back in OKC w Dwight and Paul George.

Who knows... if LeBron does opt out he may actually wanna go to a team that may have the assets to make a trade for him and still remain a contender...

bt (TOR) wrote:I would hate to be LeBron's player agent. Good luck with that decision.

Obviously that agent needs to send LeBron to New Orleans.

Jestor (PHX) wrote:Salary dumping *and* getting a 1st?  That's phenomenal return for Deng, and he's going to make the Kings worse in the short-term thanks to his #3 team high scoring rating and suckass shooting numbers.

This is precisely how I viewed the deal from my end. Some guys are acting like I traded away an all-star. Deng has been absolutely piss-poor offensively for me, and his defense this year has still left something to be desired - to the point I had to lobby for him in trade talks.

Mahinmi could be had for an expiring + a first!

LakeshowAK7 (LAL) wrote:

Jestor (PHX) wrote:Salary dumping *and* getting a 1st?  That's phenomenal return for Deng, and he's going to make the Kings worse in the short-term thanks to his #3 team high scoring rating and suckass shooting numbers.

This is precisely how I viewed the deal from my end.  Some guys are acting like I traded away an all-star.  Deng has been absolutely piss-poor offensively for me, and his defense this year has still left something to be desired - to the point I had to lobby for him in trade talks.

Now that's a good GM at work. Playing with words and selling on weaknesses. I didn't buy it but looks like others do. Great deal for Deng.

Yeah, Deng was straight up garbage this season. Really good move dumping him.

Keep in mind that factors that will play into this upcoming offseason. Deng signed a contract that EVERYONE bitched about. Essentially taking a pay cut to start for the Lakers. Now he was salary dumped a half season later to a sub .500 team.

Free agents will pay attention to the moves teams have made when deciding this off season.

Sun Scorched (CHA) wrote:Keep in mind that factors that will play into this upcoming offseason.  Deng signed a contract that EVERYONE bitched about.  Essentially taking a pay cut to start for the Lakers.  Now he was salary dumped a half season later to a sub .500 team.

Free agents will pay attention to the moves teams have made when deciding this off season.

Too bad his performance did not match what he said he'd bring to the team.  There is also a difference between trading under performing role players and all-stars.

It's not very uncommon for players to be traded after signing with a team in the real NBA either. It's a business.

LakeshowAK7 (LAL) wrote:

Sun Scorched (CHA) wrote:Keep in mind that factors that will play into this upcoming offseason.  Deng signed a contract that EVERYONE bitched about.  Essentially taking a pay cut to start for the Lakers.  Now he was salary dumped a half season later to a sub .500 team.

Free agents will pay attention to the moves teams have made when deciding this off season.

Too bad his performance did not match what he said he'd bring to the team.  There is also a difference between trading under performing role players and all-stars.

Completely agree, but Deng has never had fantastic %s, that was no secret obviously. I'm just talking out loud and conceptually of course, but it's fair to say that Deng signed a bargain contract with LAL, no? So he didn't work out, that happens, but you just traded him from a playoff locked team with several all-stars to a rebuilding team. SAC is obviously a team you, no offense Dylan, don't take a pay cut to play for at this point. I think we can all agree that Deng would never have signed with SAC at that level.

This as opposed to, what I'm about to do, trading Varejao to a contending team. Players rarely bitch about going that direction.

And really, this conversation is only important to players signed this past offseason.

So the Hayward trade shouldnt backfire at us too. Good to hear. He got paid and is now playing for a playoff contender instead for a team in rebuild Mode. Good to hear as we got 40m cap.

Jestor (PHX) wrote:Salary dumping *and* getting a 1st?  That's phenomenal return for Deng, and he's going to make the Kings worse in the short-term thanks to his #3 team high scoring rating and suckass shooting numbers.

Think that would be the case if he were going to be a starter and get starter minutes for me. Since he's not, I'm not so worried about him making us "worse". He'll be a key bench piece. That's how we view him long term.