Los Angeles Lakers’ nightmare called Luol Deng’s $35.5 million contract is now finally over. According to ESPN‘s Adrian Worjanowski, the Lakers have managed to strike a buyout agreement with Deng, and are now looking to have $38 million in salary cap space next year. In order to push the deal trough, the 33-year-old left $7.5 million on the table.
Final figure on Luol Deng buyout reduction with Lakers: $7.3M. Lakers still have $38M in 2019 salary cap space.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 4, 2018
Getting off Luol Deng’s contract positions the Lakers as the top destination for the 2019 free agents who would be coming to play with LeBron James. The organization is targeting several star players who will be taking offers next summer including Toronto Raptors’ Kawhi Leonard, Golden State Warriors’ Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson and Minnesota Timberwolves’ Jimmy Butler. One thing is for sure; the 2019 summer will be an exciting one for the basketball fans in LA.
With Luol Deng no longer on the team, the new front office of Los Angeles Lakers has finally managed to fix the mistakes of the old regime. Deng received a four-year, $72 million contract in 2016 but never justified big money invested in him. He went on to play just 57 games over the course of two years and was ultimately benched for the entire second half of the 2017-18 season. What makes Deng’s adventure with the Lakers more intriguing is the fact that he was the team’s highest paid player during his time in LA.
Before joining the Los Angeles Lakers, Luol Deng was considered to be an all-around player who was able to contribute efficiently on both sides of the floor. After becoming the seventh overall pick in the 2004 NBA draft, Deng went on to play for Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Miami Heat. During his NBA career, Deng averaged 15.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. He earned two All-Star selections and received NBA All-Defensive Second Team honors once.
