Luol Deng opting in is expensive, but it’s also the best case scenario for the Miami Heat.
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It looks like Luol Deng will be exercising his $10.1 million player option, and staying another year with the Miami Heat. Deng’s option is a little pricey, but him remaining in Miami is a no-doubt necessity.
Deng will be 30 years old this season, which is probably well past his prime, but he was able prove last year that he can still be an impactful role player.
He only averaged 14 points per game last season, which was the lowest he’s averaged since his rookie year, but this does not tell the full story. Deng might have had a decrease in point per game last season, but he shot an efficient 46.9 percent from the floor, which was the highest he’s averaged over a season since 2008. He also proved to be one of the Heat’s best three point shooters, connecting at a clip of 35.5 percent from beyond the arc. Overall, Deng posted a career-best True shooting percentage of 56.1 percent.
Deng may not averaged north of 15 points a night next season, but he’s proven to be an extremely efficient offensive weapon. He’s also a huge help on defense as well. According to 82games.com, per 48 minutes, the Heat were 6.7 points better defensively with Deng on the floor.
And even though he has had a history of spinal injuries, Deng was able to stay on the floor last year and start in 72 games. With Wade’s injury history, it’s nice to have another veteran wing player who you can consistently plug in and make an impact
Some might not think Deng is worth $10 million a year, but in today’s NBA, this is fairly normal. It’s almost impossible to find a defensive wing that can also shoot from beyond the arc for under $10 million a year.
If the Heat are going to make a run next season, they’re going to need role players, and Deng is a pretty top-notch player to have as your fifth or sixth best guy. When was the last time a team won a championship without a D-and-three wing? A Deng-type player is a necessity.
Now obviously, this Deng option means a lot more than just Deng’s on-court performance. I’m not smart enough to explain it, but here’s an explanation from NBA salary cap enthusiast, Albert Nahmad.
"The Heat’s approach with Wade could therefore be dictated not only by Dragic but also by Deng: If Deng exercises his player option, Wade and the Heat could strike a three-year contract paying out as much as $47 million (the finalized figure, as noted above, would be dependent upon the contract that Dragic signs). If Deng forgoes his player option, the Heat could avoid a gigantic tax bill even if it were to offer Wade a one-year contract at the $22 million max, which would represent a huge gesture on the part of the Heat organization and could serve as an impetus for Wade to return the favor by tabling his discussions over a multi-year contract for one more season."
The Heat may have to pay a big tax bill, but if it means keeping Wade, Dragic and Deng, I’m sure it’ll all be worth it. With these three players, a healthy Chris Bosh, a young Justise Winslow, a developing Hassan Whiteside and a wide open Eastern, the Heat have a legitimate chance to contend.
Deng isn’t the two-time All-Star he used to be, but he has more than enough left in the tank to make a serious impact. At the end of the day, Deng could prove to be the piece that puts this team over the top.