Where I'd like to see Luol Deng

This topic contains 28 replies, has 12 voices, and was last updated by DolanCare 11 years, 11 months ago.

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Posted on: Tue, 07/08/2014 - 10:56am #57151

morestealsthanscores
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I still think Luol Deng is criminally underrated. The guy can play- and does all of the little things to help a team win. I’m not holding a disgruntled 4 month stint in Cleveland against him (despite the fact it might affect his value)- I think he had no interest in being there, and I think the environment was pretty dysfunctional.
So where for him? It’s the eternal battle (and seemingly the subject of this offseason)- rings or salary?
Hell, I’m a fan. I don’t get to spend his millions. So I’m always going to say ‘rings’ over ‘$$$’. So my favourite location for Luol Deng?
OKC.
So, most of you either just +1’d or negged, and I’ve lost half of my audience. But let me explain the why and the how.
Why? Deng fits everything OKC need. A complementary third scorer that doesn’t need to dominate the ball. An athletic defender who can ensure that Durant doesn’t get the worst perimeter assignments (LeBron, Melo etc). A guy that can allow OKC to go small when necessary. A professional veteran and good ‘locker room guy’ who can help the team when they’re under pressure and the offense is disintegrating. Even potentially another ball handler who can help initiate the offense. I genuinely believe that Deng is the sort of player that could get OKC over the hump.
How? This is a bit more difficult. Without resigning Thabeet (who is now buried under Adams, Ibaka and McGary), they have about $8m in space. Find a home for Perry Jones, that gets you to $9m. Is that enough? Probably not, but you could backload the contract, $9m/$10m/$11m/$12m for a total of $42m over 4 years, which is more than reasonable, and easily achievable for OKC after Perkins’ contract comes off the books. Or, the other option (which gives them more flexibility) is the one everyone has mentioned a trillion times, the one they’ll never do- finding a new home for Perkins. The point of the above though, is that even keeping Perkins, they could fit him in.
Thoughts?
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Posted on: Tue, 07/08/2014 - 11:11am #933239

providencefriars1
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I like him in Atlanta. They need a perimeter scorer and with a healthy Horford could get a top 3 seed in the east.
PG Teague
SG Korver/Sefolosha
SF Deng
PF Millsap
C Horford
BE Korver/Sefolosha
BE Adreian Payne
BE DeMarre Carroll
BE Dennis Schroeder
Pretty nice team especially for the eastern conference
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- Posted on: Tue, 07/08/2014 - 12:24pm #933395
  
  kngojc
  Participant
  I think ATL would be a good fit for him, he definitely would play well with that group. But I can see him also playing for the Mavs too. I think their combinations of offense and defense from their starters would make him a great fit.
  PG – Raymond Felton/Devin Harris
  SG – Monta Ellis/Vince Carter
  SF – Luol Deng/Shawn Marion
  PF – Dirk Nowitzki/Shawn Marion
  C – Tyson Chandler/Brandon Wright
  These would just be their starters and primary backups I’d imagine. But you’ve got a very offensive driven backcourt, that would need help defending on the perimeter. The interior defense with Chandler back will help, but I think that’s a team that can be very competitve again. And you know Cuban isn’t afraid of spending the money on a guy like him. Just a matter of how they’ll make room for him.
  
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- Posted on: Tue, 07/08/2014 - 12:24pm #933263
  
  kngojc
  Participant
  I think ATL would be a good fit for him, he definitely would play well with that group. But I can see him also playing for the Mavs too. I think their combinations of offense and defense from their starters would make him a great fit.
  PG – Raymond Felton/Devin Harris
  SG – Monta Ellis/Vince Carter
  SF – Luol Deng/Shawn Marion
  PF – Dirk Nowitzki/Shawn Marion
  C – Tyson Chandler/Brandon Wright
  These would just be their starters and primary backups I’d imagine. But you’ve got a very offensive driven backcourt, that would need help defending on the perimeter. The interior defense with Chandler back will help, but I think that’s a team that can be very competitve again. And you know Cuban isn’t afraid of spending the money on a guy like him. Just a matter of how they’ll make room for him.
  
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Posted on: Tue, 07/08/2014 - 11:11am #933371

providencefriars1
Participant
I like him in Atlanta. They need a perimeter scorer and with a healthy Horford could get a top 3 seed in the east.
PG Teague
SG Korver/Sefolosha
SF Deng
PF Millsap
C Horford
BE Korver/Sefolosha
BE Adreian Payne
BE DeMarre Carroll
BE Dennis Schroeder
Pretty nice team especially for the eastern conference
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Posted on: Tue, 07/08/2014 - 11:46am #933381

morestealsthanscores
Participant
Good point Providence- and then he’d get properly paid!
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Posted on: Tue, 07/08/2014 - 11:46am #933249

morestealsthanscores
Participant
Good point Providence- and then he’d get properly paid!
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Posted on: Tue, 07/08/2014 - 12:03pm #933385

Memphis Madness
Participant
I like D Wade better for OKC. He could be the THIRD guy behind Durant and Westbrook. He could guard the worse backcourt player to preserve himself for offense. D Wade can also be a secondary ball handler, OR he could play with the second unit…
Maybe the Thunder can do a sign and trade for D Wade. K Perk, Perry Jones, Roberson, Thabeet, and a future first round pick for D Wade.
That just sounds like a fun team. D Wade joining up with the Durant, Westbrook, Ibaka, Steven Adams, and Reggie Jackson core.
D Wade fills that role that they lost when James Harden got traded as a scorer, crafty slasher, and creator who can also defend some and get a few steals.
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Posted on: Tue, 07/08/2014 - 12:03pm #933253

Memphis Madness
Participant
I like D Wade better for OKC. He could be the THIRD guy behind Durant and Westbrook. He could guard the worse backcourt player to preserve himself for offense. D Wade can also be a secondary ball handler, OR he could play with the second unit…
Maybe the Thunder can do a sign and trade for D Wade. K Perk, Perry Jones, Roberson, Thabeet, and a future first round pick for D Wade.
That just sounds like a fun team. D Wade joining up with the Durant, Westbrook, Ibaka, Steven Adams, and Reggie Jackson core.
D Wade fills that role that they lost when James Harden got traded as a scorer, crafty slasher, and creator who can also defend some and get a few steals.
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- Posted on: Tue, 07/08/2014 - 3:04pm #933461
  
  Kinguy11
  Participant
  And how do the Thunder pay Wade the $10-15 mil he’ll demand?
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- Posted on: Tue, 07/08/2014 - 3:04pm #933332
  
  Kinguy11
  Participant
  And how do the Thunder pay Wade the $10-15 mil he’ll demand?
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Posted on: Tue, 07/08/2014 - 12:14pm #933391

OhCanada-
Participant
I like and predict Dallas. Seems like the type of guy they would target after missing out on major free agents like Bosh, Anthony, James. Fits in perfectly with Ellis and Nowitzki. Adds another veteran presence to a veteran team that wants a championship now.
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Posted on: Tue, 07/08/2014 - 12:14pm #933259

OhCanada-
Participant
I like and predict Dallas. Seems like the type of guy they would target after missing out on major free agents like Bosh, Anthony, James. Fits in perfectly with Ellis and Nowitzki. Adds another veteran presence to a veteran team that wants a championship now.
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Posted on: Tue, 07/08/2014 - 12:19pm #933393

Chilbert arenas
Participant
I can see Phoenix overpaying for him and if I’m him I take a serious look at the Suns since they can help extend his career health wise.
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Posted on: Tue, 07/08/2014 - 12:19pm #933261

Chilbert arenas
Participant
I can see Phoenix overpaying for him and if I’m him I take a serious look at the Suns since they can help extend his career health wise.
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Posted on: Tue, 07/08/2014 - 1:12pm #933416

Zarathustra
Participant
Deng is a good fit for anybody,great 2 way player,could accept a 6th man role and a real good veteran in the locker room.It’s all about what he wants cause anybobody would sign him.
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Posted on: Tue, 07/08/2014 - 1:12pm #933286

Zarathustra
Participant
Deng is a good fit for anybody,great 2 way player,could accept a 6th man role and a real good veteran in the locker room.It’s all about what he wants cause anybobody would sign him.
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Posted on: Tue, 07/08/2014 - 3:13pm #933463

DolanCare
Participant
I’m having a hard time coming up with a good value for Deng. Like the OP stated, Deng is an all-around with great intangibles and leadership skills. But he should be the 3rd or fourth scoring option on a contender. So what…. 3 years at $18m? Is that too low, too high?
To me thats a reasonable price tag, but there are a lot of teams that are itching to over pay. And Deng is a solid character guy, so overpaying him isn’t the worst thing in the world. What would be tragic for a fanbase is if Deng was given a 5 year deal.
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Posted on: Tue, 07/08/2014 - 3:13pm #933334

DolanCare
Participant
I’m having a hard time coming up with a good value for Deng. Like the OP stated, Deng is an all-around with great intangibles and leadership skills. But he should be the 3rd or fourth scoring option on a contender. So what…. 3 years at $18m? Is that too low, too high?
To me thats a reasonable price tag, but there are a lot of teams that are itching to over pay. And Deng is a solid character guy, so overpaying him isn’t the worst thing in the world. What would be tragic for a fanbase is if Deng was given a 5 year deal.
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- Posted on: Wed, 07/09/2014 - 3:35am #933632
  
  morestealsthanscores
  Participant
  no_left- come on- 3 years $18m?!?!? You know that’s less than Jodie Meeks right?!?!?!?!?
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- Posted on: Wed, 07/09/2014 - 3:35am #933504
  
  morestealsthanscores
  Participant
  no_left- come on- 3 years $18m?!?!? You know that’s less than Jodie Meeks right?!?!?!?!?
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  - Posted on: Thu, 07/10/2014 - 11:12am #934243
    
    DolanCare
    Participant
    Yea I saw that. WHY IS JODI GETTING THAT MUCH?!?! Ok, 6 mill a year is low. I just don’t see how you could give Deng over 10 mill a year if you’re going for a title. He’s a great player, but he needs to be the 3rd or 4th scoring option. I would love to see Deng on the Clippers, but he’ll never get that much there. Maybe Houston if they don’t resign Parsons, but they probably couldn’t swing $10 mill either.
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  - Posted on: Thu, 07/10/2014 - 11:12am #934116
    
    DolanCare
    Participant
    Yea I saw that. WHY IS JODI GETTING THAT MUCH?!?! Ok, 6 mill a year is low. I just don’t see how you could give Deng over 10 mill a year if you’re going for a title. He’s a great player, but he needs to be the 3rd or 4th scoring option. I would love to see Deng on the Clippers, but he’ll never get that much there. Maybe Houston if they don’t resign Parsons, but they probably couldn’t swing $10 mill either.
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Posted on: Tue, 07/08/2014 - 3:28pm #933469

Hitster
Participant
Deng may not have had many suitors yet as I wonder if he is the back up plan for a lot of teams who are trying to nab Melo or especially LeBron.
As a Phoenix fan I’d be happy to get him ironically 10 years after we drafted him. Atlanta and Dallas are really good calls by the guys above.
Utah also have cap space but I’d assume that Hayward will play SF more now they have drafted Exum but if they could use Deng to play some PF and as a SF when Hayward benches or goes to SG it could be an option. If Hayward does get a big offer and moves on then Deng is a perfect fit to replace him.

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Posted on: Tue, 07/08/2014 - 3:28pm #933340

Hitster
Participant
Deng may not have had many suitors yet as I wonder if he is the back up plan for a lot of teams who are trying to nab Melo or especially LeBron.
As a Phoenix fan I’d be happy to get him ironically 10 years after we drafted him. Atlanta and Dallas are really good calls by the guys above.
Utah also have cap space but I’d assume that Hayward will play SF more now they have drafted Exum but if they could use Deng to play some PF and as a SF when Hayward benches or goes to SG it could be an option. If Hayward does get a big offer and moves on then Deng is a perfect fit to replace him.

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Posted on: Tue, 07/08/2014 - 3:57pm #933477

r377
Participant
Just going back to posts I made over a year ago about the pistons. Before they signed Jennings and Smith I posted that I wanted to see them wait until this off season to go after a good SF signing (Deng) as there were quite a few options this offseason.
I also thought Knight would of developed.
Not having Jennings and Smith would of saved them about $17mill which would of been more than enough for Deng, they could even look at Hawyard or Parsons.
A team of Knight, KCP, Deng, Monroe, Drummond would of been good enough for the playoffs and they still would of had around $7mill to sign another player or two…..
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Posted on: Tue, 07/08/2014 - 3:57pm #933348

r377
Participant
Just going back to posts I made over a year ago about the pistons. Before they signed Jennings and Smith I posted that I wanted to see them wait until this off season to go after a good SF signing (Deng) as there were quite a few options this offseason.
I also thought Knight would of developed.
Not having Jennings and Smith would of saved them about $17mill which would of been more than enough for Deng, they could even look at Hawyard or Parsons.
A team of Knight, KCP, Deng, Monroe, Drummond would of been good enough for the playoffs and they still would of had around $7mill to sign another player or two…..
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Posted on: Wed, 07/09/2014 - 3:44am #933642

IndianaBasketball
Participant
Deng would be a great fit in OKC, but they don’t have as much cap space as the OP thinks.
They’re already over the cap. Waiving Thabeet and trading Jones wouldn’t change that. Both of those guys only make like $1 million a piece anyway.
This is the same reason why they can’t afford Gasol… Not enough money.

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Posted on: Wed, 07/09/2014 - 3:44am #933514

IndianaBasketball
Participant
Deng would be a great fit in OKC, but they don’t have as much cap space as the OP thinks.
They’re already over the cap. Waiving Thabeet and trading Jones wouldn’t change that. Both of those guys only make like $1 million a piece anyway.
This is the same reason why they can’t afford Gasol… Not enough money.

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Where I’d like to see Luol Deng