<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Free agent Luol Deng has reached agreement on a four-year, $72 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, league sources tell The Vertical.</p>— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/749215654503280640">July 2, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Well that's a terrible contract. Deng won't move the needle for the Lakers and he's on the wrong side of 30. If they already had a franchise player and Deng was the kind of guy they needed to put them over the top, I'd get it - but they don't.
Lol. Dang. He might not get the Lakers into the playoffs but he can mentor the kids and may have trade value later on.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">LAL now at point where even trading Lou and stretching Swaggy doesn't get them double-max space next summer. Even if they give 1st rd pick</p>— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZachLowe_NBA/status/749231759305412608">July 2, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">And maybe given record in free agency that's OK. Deng as mentor/still quite good player is fine. Moz is eh, but they were gonna sign someone</p>— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZachLowe_NBA/status/749232225636450304">July 2, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
I think it's the 4 years on these contracts that is going to hurt them. Lakers fans are spoiled and this looks like a plan that sets them up for 4+ more years of being bad unless they get a MVP level superstar rookie draft pick.
I mean this dude at age 35 will be making 18 million per year. By that point he will be a below average player in the NBA. It's a terrible contract.
How stupid, what a waste of Deng's talent. Why in the hell did the Lakers give to 30+ year old vets huge long term deals instead of short term? Such assholes.
Holy cow, $136 million for Mozgov and Deng, with Deng reaching 35 by the end of the contract. Have fun with that Lakers.
That best not be allowed. How can it be considered a career ending injury when Dieng went on to play a 1/4 of a season with the Minnesota TImerberwolves?!
I wonder if this is bigger than it looks. I've heard [from RUMORS not sauces] the Lakers are very interested in Paul, and every dime counts in that effort especially 5mil annually until 2022.
