In March of 2016, veteran forward Luol Deng was a key cog on a Miami Heat team with eyes set on the Eastern Conference Finals.
In a way, Deng served a role as the Heat’s heart and soul. A valuable three-and-D player, Deng complimented the games of Goran Dragic and Hassan Whiteside by becoming a floor spacer, able to transition to the four when needed.
He saved his best basketball for last, managing to raise each of his shooting percentages during the Playoffs. In 14 Playoff games with Miami, Deng shot 47 percent from the floor and 42 percent from 3-point range.
Fast forward 11 months later, Deng, who signed a four-year, $72 million contract with the Lakers in free agency, is now being forced to watch games from the bench. Deng lost his starting role to rookie Brandon Ingram last month, and has sat out of more than one game to a coach’s decision since then.
“I totally understand what we’re doing,” Deng told the Southern California News Group (via the L.A. Times). “He wants the guys to be in situations where they learn and play minutes. It’s always about what we’re trying to do. Why am I going to be on the bench if I’m not playing?”
Deng, 31, was brought on board by the Lakers this past summer with hopes of becoming a mentor for younger players Brandon Ingram, D’Angelo Russell, Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson.
One of the more respected individuals in the association, Deng has accepted the fact that his role is slowly diminishing on this Lakers club. The team, including Magic Johnson, explored potential trades involving Deng around the deadline last week, but were unable to find him a new home.
“He wants to play the young guys, so I’m not going to play,” Deng said. “So there’s no point of being on the active roster and sit on the bench. He’s got to keep all the guys he’s going to play and evaluate.”
Lakers head coach Luke Walton still shares an appreciation for Deng. He values his locker room leadership and veteran mentality, but understands that the Lakers are not a team seeking to contend in the present day.
Deng didn’t see a single minute of action on Friday night against the Boston Celtics.
“We’re trying to get looks at all the young guys that we can,” Walton said (via the L.A. Times). “(Deng) was okay with it and it was just a way to keep all the young guys active and be able to play them all.”
Luol Deng is in his 13th professional season, and his first with the Lakers. In 56 appearances this year, Deng has averaged career-lows in points per game (7.6), shooting (39 percent), and minutes played (26.5).
The Lakers can choose to retain Deng and continue using him as a locker room leader, or potentially explore trade scenarios on draft night or during free agency.
