The Los Angeles Lakers are hoping to land at least one big name in free agency. With Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash set to return in 2014, the jury is still out as to who could be joining them. Several players already on the roster have requested a return next season, but Los Angeles appears more keen on getting players from the outside instead.
The latest name circulating the Lakers free agency rumor mill is current Cleveland Cavaliers forward Luol Deng. According to Sam Amick of USA Today Sports, the Lakers are highly considering reaching out to Deng once free agency begins. After getting traded from the Chicago Bulls to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Deng has not been too thrilled with this season. A move to Los Angeles could be welcomed by the forward.
The chances that Deng returns to the Cavaliers are very slim. The forward has been vocal about his displeasure with the locker room environment in Cleveland, stating the team was too immature to truly make a run at the playoffs. However, Deng is also seeking a big contract in free agency and Dan Gilbert might be the only one willing to give it to him.
The Lakers had interest in Deng back in February at the trade deadline, but never made a move and the Cavaliers won out instead. Deng is reaching a point in his career where he is ready to win a championship sooner rather than later. That could hurt the Lakers' chances at landing him. The Chicago Bulls are considering bringing Deng back and that destination with a healthy Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah might be more desirable than the rebuilding Lakers.
The interest in Deng comes after the Minnesota Timberwolves announced they were not trading Kevin Love this offseason and will instead keep him for the remainder of his contract and attempt to re-sign him to an extension. The Lakers have been very interested in Love and were hoping to make a trade for the forward in the offseason considering he is entering the final year of his contract with Minnesota, but that might not be an option anymore.
If Deng signs that means that both LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony were also unavailable. The Lakers want a big name and those two are the biggest. However, signing with a rebuilding team that only has an aging Bryant is not the most sought after move in free agency.
