Deng to make move out west, headed to Lakers
With Kobe Bryant gone and the team in desperate need of mature leadership, the Los Angeles Lakers are turning to Luol Deng for help on the court and in the locker room.
The Lakers and Deng agreed to a four-year, $72 million contract Saturday, a person with knowledge of the situation said. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal cannot be signed until Thursday.
The 31-year-old Deng averaged 12.3 points and 6.0 rebounds for Miami in 2015-16. The high-energy forward has made the playoffs seven times, with the Bulls and Heat, and commands immediate respect with his work ethic and ability to relate to teammates. That’s exactly what Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak sought to help shape an impressionable roster of intriguing young talent for firstyear coach Luke Walton. Those youngsters went wayward last season as Bryant concluded his farewell tour. Deng will now join fellow new signee Timofey Mozgov and holdover Lou Williams to provide veteran stability.
The Lakers finished at 17-65, the worst record in the franchise’s proud history, and were plagued by salacious headlines and speculation about how the players responded to the old-school leadership from Bryant and former coach Byron Scott.
The core of the team — D’Angelo Russell, Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. — got only younger in June when the Lakers drafted 19-year-old Duke forward Brandon Ingram with the No. 2 overall pick. Deng is a fellow Blue Devil, and both players are 6-foot-9.
Kupchak entered free agency with a huge amount of salary cap room but little hopes of attracting top free agents determined to win championships now. Instead, the Lakers hoped to place an experienced supporting cast around Russell, Ingram, Randle and Clarkson. Clarkson agreed to a four-year, $50 million deal Friday to stay with the team as a restricted free agent.