Luol Deng's unwillingness to take a pay cut actually may work out for him after all. And it may work out in Los Angeles - just not for the Lakers.
Los Angeles Lakers lose free agent Jodie Meeks to the Detroit Pistons
Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski tweeted Friday that the Cleveland Cavaliers' free agent small forward is talking to Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers about a possible sign-and-trade deal that would put him on one of the elite teams in the NBA's Western Conference.
Free agent Luol Deng intrigued with Clippers sign-and-trade possibilities, sources tell Yahoo. He's expected to speak with Doc Rivers today.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 3, 2014
He was mentioned as a free agent in which the Lakers have a serious interest.
Deng averaged 16 points per game with the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland combined last season, which matches his career average. The Bulls jettisoned the popular Deng because he wanted more than the three-year, $30 million contract the team offered, according to CBSSports.com.
The Clippers do not have the cap space to sign Deng outright, FanSided.com reports, but they do have expendable pieces that they can use on the hard-working Deng.
Among the players Los Angeles would make available are Jamal Crawford, who has a $5.45 million contract, Matt Barnes ($3.96 million), Jared Dudley ($4.25 million) and 2013-14 first-round pick Reggie Bullock ($1.2 million), according to FanSided.com.
FanSided.com added that the Clippers would retain their taxpayers' mid-level exception of $3.278 million to find a point guard or a frontcourt player.
The Bulls, the Lakers and the Miami Heat all are pursuing Deng, but CBSSports.com reported that the Heat want Deng at a discounted rate. He is unwilling to sign for less money.
The Lakers likely won't get to Deng until they know where they stand on their flirtations with LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Pau Gasol.
Deng has made it clear that he wants a market-value contract, and is unlikely to take less money to sign with any contender, CBSSports.com added.
Would Luol Deng help the Los Angeles Clippers challenge the San Antonio Spurs for Western Conference supremacy in 2014-15? Comment below or tell us @SportsWN.
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