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Lakers: 3 Potential Landing Spots for Luol Deng

By Christian Rivas

Dec 22, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Luol Deng (9) looks on during the second half against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 22, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Luol Deng (9) looks on during the second half against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oklahoma City Thunder

Oct 26, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Andre Roberson (21) reaches for a rebound against the Philadelphia 76ers during the second half at Wells Fargo Center. The Oklahoma City Thunder won 103-97. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 26, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Andre Roberson (21) reaches for a rebound against the Philadelphia 76ers during the second half at Wells Fargo Center. The Oklahoma City Thunder won 103-97. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

If you didn’t get misty-eyed when Kevin Durant threw that lob to Russell Westbrook in the All-Star game, there is something wrong with you. For one night, everything was okay again. Durant and Westbrook shared the court again and it was just as beautiful as we remembered. Poetry in motion. That was Sunday. Things are for real now.

While Durant and the Golden State Warriors are sitting comfortable at the top of the Western Conference, Westbrook and his band of misfits are at the bottom of the playoff picture and trending downward.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have lost six of their last 10 games to teams with All-Star caliber wings like Kawhi Leonard, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Jimmy Butler and yes, Otto Porter Jr.

That’s no coincidence.

Ever since Durant left, the Thunder have had a glaring hole at small forward and they know it. They tried to address it by trading for Jerami Grant, but Grant’s 6.1 points per game aren’t exactly getting it done. Nor is Andre “please don’t make me shoot” Roberson and his 6.6 points. Russ needs a wing and the Lakers have one to spare.

Luol Deng signed a four-year, $72 million deal with the Purple and Gold to essentially be a placeholder for rookie Brandon Ingram until Luke Walton felt Ingram was ready. That day came on Feb. 6 and Deng hasn’t started a game since. In OKC, he would get a fresh start and a defined role on a contending team.

The Lakers could send Deng, along with Nick Young and Thomas Robinson in exchange for Andre Roberson, Nick Collison, Anthony Morrow, Kyle Singler and OKC’s $7 million trade exception.

Deng’s offensive versatility would give Oklahoma options outside of Victor Oladipo and Westbrook. Right now, their third best option is Roberson, who is shooting 43 percent from the field and 24 percent from behind the arc. However, Roberson isn’t alone is three-point struggles. The Thunder are the second-worst three-point shooting team in the NBA.

Young, who is shooting a career-best 41.3 percent from 3, would boost their 3-point shooting in a big way. He’s not the defender Roberson, but he’s also not a traffic cone.

And it should go without saying, but Thomas Robinson would be an upgrade at power forward over Nick Collison. The trade would be mutually beneficial for both teams.

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