Luol Deng (along with Pau Gasol and others) is among the free agents in the green room, waiting for Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James to get off the stage so they can get their turn. Deng is in a second tier of free agent who has interest from teams but it is on a condition.
The Atlanta Hawks have changed that.
As much as the Hawks might like to be, they are not in the Carmelo/LeBron sweepstakes and they have turned their focus to Deng, reports Sam Amick of the USA Today.According to a person with knowledge of the situation, Deng was expected to speak with Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer about the possible partnership on Thursday night. The person spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because of the private nature of the talks.
The Hawks are slated to have about $11.5 million in salary cap room once the free agency moratorium lifts on July 10. Their recent agreement with former Oklahoma City Thunder guard Thabo Sefolosha on a four-year, $12 million deal appears to have helped their efforts to land Deng. The two players were together with the Chicago Bulls from 2006 to 2009 and had a very good relationship. The same goes for Hawks sharpshooter Kyle Korver, who was with Deng in Chicago from 2010 to 2012. Deng spent his first nine seasons in Chicago before he was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in January.
Deng would start at the three and give the Hawks an interesting starting five of Jeff Teague, Kyle Korver, Deng, Paul Millsap and Al Horford with Thabo Sefolosha, Mike Scott, rookie Adreian Payne, Pero Antic, Dennis Schroder and others off the bench. The Hawks were clear and away the third best team in the East until Al Horford was injured last season and they would take a step forward with that group. It has to be a tempting offer for Deng.
But he is going to wait until the Carmelo/LeBron situations play out, to see what other teams make a run at him.
The Clippers would like to make a sign-and-trade for Deng and he is intrigued by that idea. The Heat have interest but there are questions about what they can pay. Dallas and Houston also are reportedly interested, as might the Wizards be if they don’t bring back Trevor Ariza.