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NBA Rumors: 5 free agency destinations for Luol Deng

By John Buhler

Feb 7, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat forward Luol Deng (9) is pressured by Los Angeles Clippers guard J.J. Redick (4) during the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 7, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat forward Luol Deng (9) is pressured by Los Angeles Clippers guard J.J. Redick (4) during the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 17, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Enes Kanter (11) drives to the basket between Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh (1) and forward Luol Deng (9) during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 17, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Enes Kanter (11) drives to the basket between Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh (1) and forward Luol Deng (9) during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

Northwest. Oklahoma City Thunder. 5. player. 149. . West

There is a very small chance that the Oklahoma City Thunder will have to replace All-NBA small forward Kevin Durant this summer if one of the NBA’s top five players today decides to walk away from the Thunder in 2016 NBA free agency.

Odds are that Durant will re-up with the Thunder on a one-year deal for 2016-17 so that he can enter NBA free agency again in Summer 2017 when teammate Russell Westbrook hits free agency for the first time. Not to mention that the NBA Salary Cap in 2017-18 is set to explode with the incoming television contract money.

However if Durant does leave the Sooner State, one player that the Thunder could target to start out on the wing in 2016-17 is Deng, currently on the Heat. Deng isn’t an All-Star any more and the drop-off in production between he and Durant at the three would be vast, but Deng would provide stability out on the wing for head coach Billy Donovan should the Thunder’s worst case scenario of Durant leaving after this season come to fruition.

Losing Durant would be devastating, but bringing in a veteran leader and former All-Star like Deng might be an ideal fit for Donovan in Oklahoma City. The Thunder won’t be a NBA Championship contender if Durant leaves, but could potentially still be a Western Conference Playoff team with Deng starting for them at the three.

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