Luol Deng will only be a free agent until Tom Thibodeau hears about it
The Lakers have finally bought out Luol Deng, so the path is paved for an inevitable reunion with Tom Thibodeau.
Through two seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves, coach/chief executive Tom Thibodeau has placed some premium on “his guys” from his time with the Chicago Bulls. Not one more is available, with Shams Charania of The Athletic first to report the Los Angeles Lakers are finalizing a buyout with Luol Deng.
Deng got paid nicely during the bonanza that was the summer of 2016, with a four-year $72 million deal from the Lakers. But after diminished production in 2016-17 (7.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game over 56 games), and despite being healthy, Deng played in just one game last season.
Deng is one of the poster boys for Thibodeau’s notorious tendency to run starters into the ground, as he missed at least seven games in five subsequent season after Thibodeau’s first season as Bulls’ coach in 2010-11. Deng’s limited action late in his first season with the Lakers was a move toward a youth movement, so it can be left aside.
Sides have been working on parting ways on remaining two years and $36.8M on Deng’s contract and reached agreement, allowing him to enter free agency. https://t.co/Oj0Sl6JFep
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 1, 2018
Deng was due to make $36.8 million over the final two years of his contract, but he’s giving back a decent chunk of money. The Lakers will also get significant extra cap space for next summer, via the waive-and-stretch provision.
ESPN reporting with @ramonashelburne: In buyout with Lakers, Luol Deng walked away from $7.5M on the $36.8M left on his contract. With waive and stretch provision, Lakers have cleared $38M in salary cap space in 2019 free agency.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 1, 2018
Deng, at 33 years old, probably wants to sign with a contending team. To that end, Chris Haynes of ESPN reported several contenders are expected to have interest.
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Among those contending teams with possible interest in Deng, the Timberwolves are easy to place directly at the front of the line. Deng may be able to get paid a little bit more elsewhere, but the recruiting calls from current Timberwolves (and past Thibodeau-Bulls) Jimmy Butler, Taj Gibson and Derrick Rose have surely already started on the news he’s been bought out.