All U Can Heat
Fansided

Miami Heat: Luol Deng is the victim of an awful contract

By Brandon Johnson

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 6: Luol Deng #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers greets Udonis Haslem #40 of the Miami Heat on January 6, 2017 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 6: Luol Deng #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers greets Udonis Haslem #40 of the Miami Heat on January 6, 2017 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 4
Next
DURHAM, NC – MAY 31: Former Duke basketball player Luol Deng sits down for SiriusXM’s Town Hall With Hall Of Fame Coach Mike Krzyzewski at Bill Brill Media Room in Cameron Indoor Stadium on May 31, 2018 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images for SiriusXM)
DURHAM, NC – MAY 31: Former Duke basketball player Luol Deng sits down for SiriusXM’s Town Hall With Hall Of Fame Coach Mike Krzyzewski at Bill Brill Media Room in Cameron Indoor Stadium on May 31, 2018 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images for SiriusXM) /

Play Me, Please

With the Lakers however, Deng being relegated to bench duty tanked his trade value.

Whereas Carter’s value was immediately apparent to the Atlanta Hawks, who signed him for potentially his last year in the Association, Deng lacked a demo reel this past season, giving potential suitors nothing to latch on to.

A similar plot unfolded with Deng’s benchmate, Timofey Mozgov. Once the starting center for the 2016 NBA champion Cavaliers, Mozgov earned a huge, four-year $64 million deal from the Lakers, only to have played 31 games last season.

The Lakers were unlikely to have won anymore games with Deng in the rotation, but letting him play would have been mutually beneficial. Now 33, Deng is closing in what could be his final seasons, one of which was spent on the bench.

Had he played, the Lakers likely could have drummed up interest, shed his deal, and ended the relationship on good terms.

Instead, Deng is part of a team during a rebuild with no exit in sight.

"“I want to play, I want to be a part of something,” Deng said of his time with the Lakers. “But I’m not going to be a part of a place where you don’t believe in me. I’m not trying to knock down anybody, but I play for people who believe in me.”"

If only Miami had put their belief in Deng into monetary value, he might not be in such a predicament. With the Heat, Deng was truly versatile. In the 2016 playoffs, he filled in as a small ball center in Whiteside’s stead, and his range was truly a devastating feature.

Now, Deng’s next minutes aren’t even going to be in the country. He is slated to participate in the 2018 NBA Africa Game this Saturday, representing Team Africa.

The power of the dollar is supreme. Just as it drove Wade to sign with the Chicago Bulls, Deng has become the victim of his price tag.

Next. The newest era of Miami Heat Basketball is for fans of the game. dark

Regardless of what happens, it’s nothing but well wishes for another Heat Lifer.

Home/Heat History