Luol Deng could take less money to re-sign with Miami Heat

Fresh off a strong season, Luol Deng may be willing to take less money to remain with the Miami Heat.

Not many players can say they stepped up to replace two franchise cornerstones in two years, but that’s exactly what Luol Deng did for the Miami Heat.

Deng first signed with the Heat two years ago, filling the small forward spot vacated by LeBron James’ return to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Then this season, after Chris Bosh exited the season for serious medical reasons, Deng slid over to the 4 to replace Bosh and usher in a half season of fast-paced offense.

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His presence could often be taken for granted, but his impact was always important. Deng averaged 15.2 points and 8.1 rebounds after the All-Star break and then 19 points per game in the first round of the playoffs before the Heat went cold in Round 2 against the Raptors.

Deng, at $10 million this season, often played above his pay grade. He should have some lucrative offers this off-season, when he’s set to become a free agent. And for decision on Hassan Whiteside and Dwyane Wade looming, the Heat may not be able to match those offers.

However during exit interviews, Deng offered some insight into what his thought process will be this summer, saying it will be more than money that drives his ultimate decision. Per the Miami Herald:

"“Definitely,” Deng said. “Like I said I enjoyed it here. I enjoyed every bit of it. So going forward obviously I would love to be here. It’s something that we will sit down and discuss. I can’t really say one bad thing about being here. I enjoyed my time. The one thing that I know about here is that it’s an organization that wants to win and an organization that will support the players and what they do whether its on the court or off the court. My foundation got a lot of support, things I want to do in life. It’s a lot more than just basketball here.”“Definitely,” he said. “At the end of the day, I try to play the best that I can play, be the best player I can be and hear what everyone has to say and listen to teams. But for me, it’s always about being comfortable, being in an organization and around people that really appreciate the things that I do. I think the financial part is what you discuss when you go into that room. There’s a lot of teams out there that can offer you a lot of money, but the feel might not be the same and vice-versa. There could be teams that can’t give you what the other team can, but they have a lot of other things they can support you with.“I’ve been in this situation before when I came here. I remember choosing here and it wasn’t really the financial [part that drew me]. It was really the fact I wanted to be comfortable and be somewhere where what I do is appreciated.”"

Remember, Deng originally spurned similar offers in the $10 million range to join the Heat in the first place two seasons ago. He was waiting for the right fit, and to join a team where he could play a significant role. Deng proved this past season that, when in the right system, he can be very impactful.

With just six players under contract, the Heat have just over $42 million in cap space heading into the summer, before re-signing Wade and possibly Whiteside. That doesn’t leave much room to re-sign Deng and fill out the roster with eight additional players.

More heat: Heat Check: Off-Season Questions

If Deng wants to remain in Miami, it seems he’ll have to take a discount. Luckily for the Heat, it wouldn’t be the first time a veteran turned down money to play in South Beach.