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NBA Rumors: Los Angeles Lakers have to eat Luol Deng’s contract

By Michael Saenz

MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 22: Luol Deng #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers passes around Josh McRoberts #4 of the Miami Heat during a game at American Airlines Arena on December 22, 2016 in Miami, Florida. 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. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 22: Luol Deng #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers passes around Josh McRoberts #4 of the Miami Heat during a game at American Airlines Arena on December 22, 2016 in Miami, Florida. 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. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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NBA Rumors: The Los Angeles Lakers don’t believe they can move Luol Deng’s contact without attaching his contract to an asset, and they have no interest in doing so

If the Los Angeles Lakers had one redo from the last handful of offseasons, signing Luol Deng to an insane four-year, $72 million contract a couple of summers ago.

Interestingly, though, Los Angeles now believes that they’ve been backed into a corner and are going to have to “eat” said contract. After trying to move the cap eating deal, the Lakers have reportedly “given up” on the possibility of trading Deng.

Why? Well, it’s simple. In order to move that big of a contract, considering that Deng is probably on the down side of his career, the Lakers were always going to have to attach that contract to either a young asset or a draft pick. The Lakers don’t have any interest in doing so; so Deng isn’t going anywhere.

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"[via ESPN, H/T Lakers Outsiders]“You talk to teams around the league, no one is bailing the Lakers out with Deng’s contract. They’re not. Teams have asked for multiple first-round picks. They’ve asked for Brandon Ingram. They’ll ask for Kyle Kuzma. The Lakers have essentially given up on the idea that they can trade Deng.”"

The Lakers have big plans for either this summer of next summer; perhaps both. And every bit of cap space that they can clear before the summer – or during the summer – is huge. Which is why they will likely trade Jordan Clarkson and/or let Julius Randle walk in restricted free agency this summer.

Deng makes LA potentially having a historic summer that much more difficult.

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Deng has appeared in only one game this season, when he logged just 13 minutes on opening night against the LA Clippers. Last season, in 56 appearances, Deng averaged 7.6 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. To say that Deng has failed to live up to his huge contract would be an understatement.

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