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NBA free agency rumors: Kent Bazemore influenced Luol Deng Lakers deal

By John Buhler

Apr 1, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Miami Heat forward Luol Deng (9) returns to the bench in the game against the Sacramento Kings in the second quarter at Sleep Train Arena. Miami won 112-106. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 1, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Miami Heat forward Luol Deng (9) returns to the bench in the game against the Sacramento Kings in the second quarter at Sleep Train Arena. Miami won 112-106. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apparently the Los Angeles Lakers had to pay wing Luol Deng what they had originally offered to Kent Bazemore to sign Deng away from the Miami Heat.

According to TNT’s David Aldridge, the Los Angeles Lakers “bumped up offer for Luol Deng to $18M per–same that they offered Kent Bazemore–after Bazemore turned them down to stay in Atlanta.”

Signing Deng to a multi-year deal is now the third big free agency deal the Lakers have put together this offseason, along with bringing former Cleveland Cavaliers center Timofey Mozgov into the fold and wisely re-signing new starting shooting guard Jordan Clarkson in his restricted free agency.

For as much flak as Lakers team president Jim Buss might get for overspending on a declining veteran wing like Deng, this isn’t a bad move for the Lakers in the grand scheme of things. Deng is a former All-Star, always willing to play great defense, has a great three-point shot, and is a great locker room guy. For a team in need of all of those things now that Kobe Bryant has retired, this isn’t a bad pick up for Los Angeles.

It’s interesting that Bazemore, a former Laker benchwarmer, was the guy that essentially aided Deng to get an $18 million per year contract with Los Angeles. Deng was once a coveted free agent target for the Hawks in summer 2014. He signed with the Miami Heat. Atlanta brought in Bazemore on a team-friendly two-year deal and he became a starting wing in this league.

Deng seems like he’ll be a great fit in new head coach Luke Walton’s system in Los Angeles. He’ll provide the veteran leadership and high-character qualities this young team frankly didn’t have entering the 2016-17 NBA season.

For more NBA free agency news, please check out our NBA free agency category page.

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