Lakers: 3 Potential Landing Spots for Luol Deng

Minnesota Timberwolves

What if instead of going back to Chicago, Tom Thibodeau brought his old Bulls squad to Minnesota? He has all of the power to do so as the Timberwolves’ president of basketball operations AND head coach, so what’s stopping him? Absolutely nothing.

Reuniting Derrick Rose and Thibs would certainly be something. Rose had his best years with Thibodeau in Chicago, so pairing the two wouldn’t be a terrible idea. But why stop there? Get the rest of the band back together, Tom! Preferably, starting with Luol Deng.

Ric Bucher of Bleacher Report mentioned earlier this season that Thibodeau was looking for a “veteran who can help him win now” but it  had to be, “a player he already knows and trusts.” Bucher named Deng as a potential target.

Deng was a two-time All-Star under Thibodeau and the two have always had a lot of respect for each other. Shipping Deng to Minnesota would arguably put Deng in a better position than the one he is in right now in Los Angeles.

In this trade, the Lakers would send Deng, Nick Young and Marcelo Huertas for Tyus Jones, Shabazz Muhammad and Nikola Pekovic.

Pekovic, who has played a combined 43 games over the last three seasons, is due $23.7 million over the next two seasons. As bad as that sounds, he becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2018, when players like Paul George and DeMarcus Cousins hit the open market. It’s also the same season new Laker Corey Brewer’s contract expires. Can you say max contract slot?

Aside from that, the Lakers would be getting back a capable backup point guard in Tyus Jones, who hasn’t been given the opportunity to grow in Minnesota, and Shabazz Muhammad, an LA native that could serve as Ingram’s backup. Muhammad grew up in Long Beach, CA and played college hoops at UCLA. Both players are under the age of 25.

As for the Timberwolves, they would get established veterans to play alongside their exciting young core. Young could fill the void at shooting guard while Zach LaVine recovers from a torn ACL and Deng could play alongside Karl-Anthony Towns in the frontcourt. Deng can guard both forward positions and space the floor, so the fit would be natural. Huertas is just gravy.