Luol Deng Wants To Play, Seeks Clarity From Lakers

[dan-man]

I bet eventually when Lebron gets frustrated with the kids he will have Deng play with him

It'll take 3-4 blown ACLs or Achilles for this guy to make it on the floor.

[dan-man]

He has all the power to void his contract and go sign with another team if he doesn't like wasting what time he has left in the NBA. I'm sure the Lakers wouldn't stop him much like the Knicks wouldn't stop Noah. I'm tired of hearing these guys talk about not playing when the solution is in their hands, otherwise just collect your massive checks. They are honoring those contracts so they least you can do is honor your end of the bargain and not stir the pot and do as they wish.

No chance he voids his contract, it's negotiation, buyout, meet in the middle kinda thing.

But since they're not rebuilding/playing youth anymore, he should be able to get pt if he can still play.

Next year he'll be expiring and the Lakers should be able to trade him.

He played great before the contract, I don't believe he's that bad now.

If LBJ plays the four then it's a problem, otherwise, he should be good as a 3&D four.

The Lakers needed to fire Fredo Buss & Mitch a year earlier. So many costly moves that set the organization back several years. Once Deng is off the books they will be free of that filthy management & their toxic contracts.

[Dan Z]

It comes with the territory IMO. If you sign massive contracts like this and stink you aren't going to be tradable and the GM that gave it to you and was invested in you is probably going to lose his job. This certainly isn't the first time this has ever happened so you know what you are getting yourself into. He has no excuse to be annoyed.

He has every reason to be annoyed. He's a 10 year veteran and a former all-star. Yes he's not the player that he once was, and he played poorly his first year with the Lakers, but he's healthy and wants to play.

As you said above this has happened before. In most cases those players were disruptive to their team. Deng is not. He's been professional and is only speaking out about this now (the offseason). Sure he might continue to sit on the bench (the Lakers aren't obligated to play him) but he has every right to vent. Even his comments above aren't that bad when you consider the situation he's in.

he can EASILY negotiate a buy-out or shortened deal to go play elsewhere. Speaking publicly while under contract for two more years at that high of a number is a low life move.

It's rare that a player who has more than one year left on their contract is bought out. It's also possible that both sides have talked about it and it didn't go anywhere. Why would Deng give up any money? Or at least a large amount of it? The Lakers are the team that gave him that contract.

He hasn't said much this entire time and is now talking in the offseason. That's not very disruptive. How many times has a player been unhappy and then turned into a locker room cancer? It's happened many times. Deng was not a distraction this past season.

[dan-man]

He has every reason to be annoyed. He's a 10 year veteran and a former all-star. Yes he's not the player that he once was, and he played poorly his first year with the Lakers, but he's healthy and wants to play.

As you said above this has happened before. In most cases those players were disruptive to their team. Deng is not. He's been professional and is only speaking out about this now (the offseason). Sure he might continue to sit on the bench (the Lakers aren't obligated to play him) but he has every right to vent. Even his comments above aren't that bad when you consider the situation he's in.

he can EASILY negotiate a buy-out or shortened deal to go play elsewhere. Speaking publicly while under contract for two more years at that high of a number is a low life move.

It's rare that a player who has more than one year left on their contract is bought out. It's also possible that both sides have talked about it and it didn't go anywhere. Why would Deng give up any money? Or at least a large amount of it? The Lakers are the team that gave him that contract.

He hasn't said much this entire time and is now talking in the offseason. That's not very disruptive. How many times has a player been unhappy and then turned into a locker room cancer? It's happened many times. Deng was not a distraction this past season.

I'm not saying Deng should give up any money. But if he won't give up any, he can't bitch about not playing... That's his call. He's gotta decide if he wants keep getting paid to ride the pine w/only so much career remaining for him. I think he needs to patiently wait out this season and assume he'll get delt and released in 2019 the same way melo did a few weeks ago. The Lakers probably won't stretch or eat the contract in a transition year so Deng better get comfy and shut his hole. He should send a gift basket to that idiot, Jim Buss as well for giving him all that free money and enjoy his free ride.

[ChokeFasncists]

He has all the power to void his contract and go sign with another team if he doesn't like wasting what time he has left in the NBA. I'm sure the Lakers wouldn't stop him much like the Knicks wouldn't stop Noah. I'm tired of hearing these guys talk about not playing when the solution is in their hands, otherwise just collect your massive checks. They are honoring those contracts so they least you can do is honor your end of the bargain and not stir the pot and do as they wish.

No chance he voids his contract, it's negotiation, buyout, meet in the middle kinda thing.

But since they're not rebuilding/playing youth anymore, he should be able to get pt if he can still play.

Next year he'll be expiring and the Lakers should be able to trade him.

He played great before the contract, I don't believe he's that bad now.

If LBJ plays the four then it's a problem, otherwise, he should be good as a 3&D four.

The Lakers needed to fire Fredo Buss & Mitch a year earlier. So many costly moves that set the organization back several years. Once Deng is off the books they will be free of that filthy management & their toxic contracts.

Pretty crazy time. Ingram was pretty much a no-brainer pick. Anything else panned out?

[dan-man]

No chance he voids his contract, it's negotiation, buyout, meet in the middle kinda thing.

But since they're not rebuilding/playing youth anymore, he should be able to get pt if he can still play.

Next year he'll be expiring and the Lakers should be able to trade him.

He played great before the contract, I don't believe he's that bad now.

If LBJ plays the four then it's a problem, otherwise, he should be good as a 3&D four.

The Lakers needed to fire Fredo Buss & Mitch a year earlier. So many costly moves that set the organization back several years. Once Deng is off the books they will be free of that filthy management & their toxic contracts.

Pretty crazy time. Ingram was pretty much a no-brainer pick. Anything else panned out?

Nothing at all. I was huge believer in trading Kobe back in 2012ish. He could have competed for a ring in Chicago w/Rose & Butler while the Lakers jump started the rebuild the way Danny Ainge did w/the Big 3 back in Boston.

[The Laker Kid]

He should login to his bank account. Pretty sure he'll get some clarity on the spot.

[likashing]

He should call LeBron and Rich directly. We all know who the real Don is over there.

[alienpick]

#letDengplay

[dan-man]

#letDengplay

He'll get bought out next summer. All he needs to do is collect his pay checks and shut his hole. He can play pick up games in Venice if he needs to get a sweat.

[GreatWhiteStiff]

I'm a bit confused...why wouldn't the lakers buy him out if they had no intention of playing him? And why wouldn't he accept a slight depreciation in his contract in order to be bought out if that's important to him. I couldn't see either party getting in the way of another here...

[Dan Z]

I'm a bit confused...why wouldn't the lakers buy him out if they had no intention of playing him? And why wouldn't he accept a slight depreciation in his contract in order to be bought out if that's important to him. I couldn't see either party getting in the way of another here...

I think a big reason why that hasn't happened is because he has two years left on his contract. When a player is bought out it's usually when they have one year left (Melo for example).

[Dan Z]

he can EASILY negotiate a buy-out or shortened deal to go play elsewhere. Speaking publicly while under contract for two more years at that high of a number is a low life move.

It's rare that a player who has more than one year left on their contract is bought out. It's also possible that both sides have talked about it and it didn't go anywhere. Why would Deng give up any money? Or at least a large amount of it? The Lakers are the team that gave him that contract.

He hasn't said much this entire time and is now talking in the offseason. That's not very disruptive. How many times has a player been unhappy and then turned into a locker room cancer? It's happened many times. Deng was not a distraction this past season.

I'm not saying Deng should give up any money. But if he won't give up any, he can't bitch about not playing... That's his call. He's gotta decide if he wants keep getting paid to ride the pine w/only so much career remaining for him. I think he needs to patiently wait out this season and assume he'll get delt and released in 2019 the same way melo did a few weeks ago. The Lakers probably won't stretch or eat the contract in a transition year so Deng better get comfy and shut his hole. He should send a gift basket to that idiot, Jim Buss as well for giving him all that free money and enjoy his free ride.

He's frustrated and I don't blame him for venting during the offseason. He has done whatever the Lakers asked him to do and wasn't a distraction during the season. Most players would not act as professional as he has in a situation like this. Just look at the end of Iverson's career or the crazy stuff Marbury did during his time with the Knicks. I'm sure there are other examples too.

I have no idea if a buyout was discussed, but players are rarely bough out when they have more than one year left on their contract. Can you remember one?

I don't see why he can't play a small role on the team. Something similar to Jeff Green on the Cavs.

[cheese318]

Makes me wonder who says NO to Deng+Kuzma for Ibaka.

Would the Lakers want to get out of his salary for the next two years to be willing to give up a promising kid in Kuzma? I didn't follow the Lakers much last season but I remember a few good games out of Kuzma.

Stat-wise, Randle looked much better, and Ibaka had a better RPM than both of them. But the promise/potential of youth can be strong...

Are the Lakers in Win Now mode this season? Do they need to shed salary to add another star next season? Do the Raptors even want to give up Ibaka when they look like a strong contender for the ECF this season? If they can't re-sign Leonard next summer, I'm sure they'd love to have Kuzma going forward instead of a late 20s Ibaka.

The Lakers would say no. Why would they do that trade? Kuzma is the young promising prospect. Rookie contract. There is no way I would do that trade if I’m the Lakers.

[Chi Dynasty12]

Ths Lakers need Luol so LeBron can eat his soul every practice, much like he did every playoff series vs the Bulls

[danfantastk32]

For the love of god....we went through this last year.

It's really simple Deng: Making you waste your career is the only slight leverage the Lakers have. If you really hate it that much, then negotiate. Your making 18mil a year, for two years. Go to the front office, and tell them you will accept $20 to be bought out this year.

If you want every penny coming to you.....the Lakers want every second coming to them. It's super simple.

Sucks that it's happening. But you were grossly overpaid, and you know it. If you REALLY love the game that much, and can't stand to be apart of something where they don't believe in you.....then go negotiate. Your the one holding almost every card in this....so quit whining.

[luss54321]

It's really disgraceful the way the Lakers have treated Luol Deng. He's a very solid player and a stand up guy. Shame on that organization. Players around the league pay attention when an organization treats a player like crap.

It's no wonder LA can NEVER sign marquee free agents despite being one of the biggest markets in the league. Aside from Lebron who was the last big time free agent LA signed? I can't think of a single one.

[chipchipperson]

It's really disgraceful the way the Lakers have treated Luol Deng. He's a very solid player and a stand up guy. Shame on that organization. Players around the league pay attention when an organization treats a player like crap.

It's no wonder LA can NEVER sign marquee free agents despite being one of the biggest markets in the league. Aside from Lebron who was the last big time free agent LA signed? I can't think of a single one.

He's a bum on an enormous contract. If he wants to go get burn somewhere the path is obvious: negotiate a reasonable buyout and move on with your life. If the lakers are content with paying him to sit on their bench instead of paying him the same amount to play for someone else, who in their right mind could blame them? Moz was the worse signing, but at least moz has the decency not to pretend he's not an albatross.

[ryanball]

A player who wants to do the job he he is paid for?

Outrageous, this guy is a clown and a bum and its a bad contract and and and...

If only he were more like Kawaii Leonard. Now there is a great person. He refuses to play even as he collects money from a team that would like for him to do what they are paying him for.

[TKainZero]

I think he has a chance to play this year

As a small ball pf or as a dwarf 5

His potential switchabilty would be nice.

If he was making 4 mil a year it would be fine. If he was making the vet min like nba2k thinks he should, it would be even better