Best Potential Free-Agent Landing Spots for Luol Deng During 2014 Offseason
Luol Deng has big free-agency plans this summer, which we know because he turned down a three-year, $30 million contract extension from the Chicago Bulls before they banished him to the Cleveland Cavaliers last year.
That's not an offer you reject unless you're convinced more cash or a longer deal is out there on the open market.
Maybe he was right about his potential earning power, and maybe he wasn't. What matters here is that we can't ignore his mindset when discussing his potential landing spots.
And we also can't look past his singular stated desire: winning.
Last season, Deng told Aggrey Sam of CSNChicago.com:
"I want to win. A winning situation, that’s it. I want to be in a place where guys are committed, the team is committed, the organization is committed, the coaching staff knows what direction they’re going. To me, I play better and I shine better and I’m a better player on a team that’s committed to winning.
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In other words, lottery-bound pushovers need not apply.
This is the point where we should acknowledge that collecting big bucks and winning is a tough double dip to pull off. Successful teams are generally smart, which means they know better than to spend extravagantly on players with major mileage and sub-star skills like Deng.
There are a few squads he should consider this summer—if he's willing to compromise on his financial demands.
Dallas Mavericks
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The Dallas Mavericks have shown a knack for snagging second-tier free agents at surprisingly fair prices. They got their hands on Monta Ellis and Jose Calderon last season, and both players worked out nicely, propelling the Mavs to a top-five finish in offensive efficiency for a combined $15 million between them.
Calderon is gone now, though, being sent to the New York Knicks as part of a deal that will bring back Tyson Chandler and Raymond Felton, per Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports.
So even if Deng is exactly the kind of veteran acquisition the Mavs are in the habit of making, the added salary brought by Chandler and Felton will almost certainly force the free-agent small forward to consider a pay cut.
Dallas took on some extra money in the Chandler trade, and with Dirk Nowitzki, Vince Carter, Shawn Marion, Devin Harris and DeJuan Blair making up a list of free agents that the team would largely like to retain, Deng can't expect an eight-figure annual salary.
Perhaps being part of a championship contender—which the Mavs might be with Chandler back in the fold—will convince Deng to drop his price.
And look: The Mavs are interested, per Tim McMahon and Marc Stein of ESPN.com:
"Sources say the Mavs also have interest in free-agent small forward Luol Deng, although there are concerns about his durability after the two-time All-Star missed 75 games over the previous four seasons and led the league in minutes per game twice in the last four seasons.
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We should probably make clear that Deng won't even get a phone call from the Mavericks until the big guns are off the market. Dallas won't want to sign him before both LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony are definitely removed from the equation.
In fact, keep that caveat in mind for every team that is mentioned going forward. Nobody's going to pay Deng if they believe that money could be used on available superstars.
No offense, Luol.
Washington Wizards
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Trevor Ariza and Marcin Gortat are the Washington Wizards' two biggest free-agent priorities. After advancing to the second round of the postseason last year, the up-and-coming Wiz will likely look to retain as much of the core that engineered the best season in years as possible.
But Ariza might field a big offer from another team—perhaps one that isn't fully acquainted with his history of giving maximum effort only in contract years. And Gortat will draw interest from plenty of clubs around the league.
If the Wizards lose out on one or both of their own free agents, Deng could represent a stellar consolation prize.
Right now, Washington has about $46 million committed to next year's salaries, per ShamSports.com. So if it loses Gortat and Ariza or renounces its rights to clear their cap holds, Deng could conceivably get the multiyear deal he wants.
Four years and something like $44 million is probably a bit of an overpay, but the Wizards should place some extra worth on Deng's composure, experience and professionalism. In addition to him handling the opponent's toughest perimeter matchup on a nightly basis, the grit and attitude he could impart to the Wizards' young players would be valuable.
The Wizards took a step forward last season. Deng is just the kind of no-nonsense locker-room presence to help them take another one in 2014-15.
Atlanta Hawks
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Ah yes, everyone's perennially forgotten free-agent destination: the Atlanta Hawks.
Look, these Hawks were darn good last year before Al Horford went down at the end of December—like, third-in-the-East good. With their big man recovered, Paul Millsap on a bargain of a deal and Jeff Teague playing like a star in Atlanta's first-round postseason ouster, there's a lot to like about the ATL.
Deng would be an improvement over DeMarre Carroll, whose relegation to the bench would add some real punch to the reserves. And though Deng is not the caliber of shooter the three-happy Hawks would prefer, his mixture of defense and opportunistic scoring would make him a fine fit.
And if we're to take him at his word about that whole "winning" thing, it makes the most sense for him to stay in the Eastern Conference. With the Miami Heat potentially disbanding, the Indiana Pacers looking vulnerable and the Wizards being perhaps not quite ready for prime time, the Hawks have an opportunity to make a sneaky push toward the conference finals.
With $48 million already earmarked for next season and relatively few roster spots to fill, Atlanta could probably afford to give Deng a fair-market deal.
This destination makes a lot of sense.
Phoenix Suns
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Fun fact: The Phoenix Suns originally drafted Deng back in 2004.
Of course, they promptly gave him away because that selection came at a time when Suns ownership was basically selling off high picks for pennies on the dollar in order to save money. In Deng's case, Phoenix shipped him to the Bulls for a future first-rounder (which ended up being the No. 21 pick in 2005) and the immortal Jackson Vroman, whom you have almost certainly never heard of.
The mid-2000s wasn't a great time to be a Suns fan.
But Phoenix was linked to Deng again as recently as this past season, as Chad Ford mentioned the Suns as an ideal trade destination for him in a chat on ESPN.com. Granted, Deng's expiring deal was probably part of the appeal to the cap-conscious Suns last year, but the fact remains he could be a fantastic fit in the desert.
The Suns have loads of forwards who can shoot and space the floor, but they lack one who can shut down opposing wings. And much like the Wizards, Phoenix could use a veteran presence who has been through playoff wars to show its young core how to mature into a real contender.
Maybe it'll come a decade after it should have, but Deng as a Sun feels right.
Miami Heat
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If Deng is really ready to put his money where his mouth is, the Heat would provide him with the surest chance to win and win big—assuming, of course, that the Big Three all agree to take pay cuts in order to facilitate the acquisition of free-agent help.
Shane Battier is out of the league, Michael Beasley never grew up like the Heat hoped he would, and Rashard Lewis can't be expected to duplicate his postseason hot streak in the future. Deng is precisely what Miami needs to bolster its supporting cast on the wing.
His presence would mean LeBron James could avoid the toughest perimeter matchups. And Deng's nonstop motor would be just what the doctor ordered to keep the bouts of malaise that have plagued the Heat for years from cropping up quite so frequently.
Maybe it would only take the mid-level exception. Or perhaps Deng would be willing to get on board in Miami for a below-market rate if it meant he'd get an almost certain ticket to the Finals.
If the Big Three reunite, we know they'll need a new supporting cast. And any veteran approaching the age of 30 who wants his "winning is all that matters to me" talk to be taken seriously could do a lot worse than paying a visit to South Beach.
