Lakers Rumors: Possible Trade Packages for Luol Deng
By Jason Reed
Various Lakers rumors have been circling around the next Lakers superstar. If the team wants to bring in star talent, they need to clear some cap space in Luol Deng.
Last offseason the Lakers brought in veteran small forward Luol Deng and former Cavaliers center Timofey Mozgov. The motive was clear here for the Lakers: bring in veteran talent that can help aid the progression of their young bucks. However, after the end of the 2017 season, these deals seem nothing short of absurd and are hurting the Lakers greatly.
Last season Timofey Mozgov and Luol Deng made a combined $34 million dollars for the Los Angeles Lakers. These two are the two highest paid players on the Lakers, and in fact, make more money than D’Angelo Russell, Brandon Ingram, Julius Randle, Larrny Nance Jr, and Ivica Zubac combined. This leaves the Lakers with only $16 million in cap space next season.
Lakers rumors have been circling faster than I can describe regarding the next Lakers superstar to come home to LA. Paul George, Blake Griffin, Gordon Hayward, and countless others have been rumored to want to join the purple and gold. The problem is, the team cannot afford these guys while eating the contracts of both Luol Deng and Timofey Mozgov.
It is not like Deng is a huge contributor either, as the Lakers could easily deal him and not miss him. Some of the returns may not be great in this deal, but it is imperative that the Lakers shop Deng around for anything they can get.
Therefore, according to the trade finder within NBA 2K17, here are three potential trade packages the Lakers could receive for Luol Deng.