4. Luol Deng Needs to be Traded
So… no one wants Luol Deng’s contract? Are you sure? Have you checked all of the options? Could Mitch Kupchak, the new general manager and president of the Charlotte Hornets, trade for his contract?Maybe Marvin Williams or Michael Kidd-Gilchrist could be in a return package to Los Angeles.
All jokes aside, it is clear that his contract is unwanted by every team in the NBA. Unless the Lakers attach a future first round pick, or part of their young core still on a rookie contract a deal seems very unlikely. The Julius Randle contract situation also complicates the Deng trade talks, as he is set to land a lucrative contract this offseason.
This expectation was a stretch. Expect Magic Johnson to waive and stretch Deng’s contract sometime this offseason. Flexibility for a pipe-dream superstar signing should not interfere with this development program.