Luol Deng Contemplates Decision as Free Agency Hits

By Sam Neter on July 2, 2014

British basketball and NBA star Luol Deng has a number of options on the table as free agency kicked in at midnight ET on Tuesday.

Dallas, Miami, LA Clippers, LA Lakers and Atlanta have all registered their interest in the versatile forward who was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers from the Chicago Bulls, the team he had spent his entire career with, in January after they couldn’t come to an agreement on a contract extension. In an interview with the Chicago Tribune, Deng said he turned down a 3 year, $30million extension.

Deng is coming off a six-year, $71 million deal he signed in 2008, earning him $14.3 million for the 2013-14 season, and Yahoo’s Adrian Wojnarowski puts his current market value at the $10-12m range.

ESPN’s Chris Broussard has reported he is not willing to take a lot less than that to join a team such as Miami.

Hearing that Luol Deng will not take significantly less than his market value to join Heat

— Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) July 1, 2014

Deng’s agent, Ron Shade, told USA Today Sports that Luol is in no rush to make a decision, being open to all options, and would also welcome the chance to return to Chicago.

“There’s always going to be a part of him that belongs to Chicago, and part of Chicago that belongs to him,” Shade said. “There were no hard feelings (about the trade). Moving forward, he’d look to have an amicable relationship (if he played with the Bulls).”

The Wizards were also mentioned as a possible location in the piece.

Deng played 10 years in Chicago, averaging 19 points and 6.9 rebounds in 23 games last season. After the trade, he wasn’t as successful in Cleveland – in part due to injuries – and averaged 14.3 points and 5.1 rebounds in 40 games for the Cavaliers.

The 6’9″ two-time All Star, is scheduled to return from his trip to Europe today, and posted one final picture to instagram, believed to be in Germany, sitting in front of a scenic lane with the caption ‘decisions…’.

Only time will tell what the decision will be.

First call to free agent forward Luol Deng's reps tonight: Dallas Mavericks.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 1, 2014

Clippers have called on Luol Deng tonight, source tells Yahoo.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 1, 2014

Miami's Pat Riley has called Luol Deng's reps and registered his significant interest, source tells Yahoo.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 1, 2014

One strong candidate for that $15M-plus of fresh salary cap space in Atlanta, league sources tell Yahoo: Free agent forward Luol Deng.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) June 30, 2014

To be clearer on the Hawks cap space, Deng could be a part of it — by no means all of it. Market for him in $10-$12m annual range.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) June 30, 2014

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