2014 NBA Free Agency Rumors & Predictions: Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers Frontrunners for Luol Deng
Luol Deng is expected to become one of the most coveted free agents this summer, and several teams are already expressing their interest in acquiring the Cleveland Cavaliers forward.
Among the interested teams, Joel Brigham of Basketball Insiders believes that the Phoenix Suns and the Los Angeles Lakers have the best shot at acquiring the 29-year-old forward.
Brigham added that Phoenix is a better fit for Deng, considering the fact that the team needs a veteran presence, who can push them over the hump in the next several seasons.
The Suns, who had a surprising run this season, finished one-game behind the Dallas Mavericks in the race for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
"Deng is undeniably an upgrade and the perfect guy to push them over the hump and into the playoffs next year," Brigham wrote. "He's a great locker room presence for some of those young guys, and he'd have a good coach in Jeff Hornacek and a great training staff to help keep him healthy. Feels like a great fit to me."
But if Deng considers money and glamor as the main factors when he makes his decision this summer, the Lakers will arguably be the favorite to land the All-Star forward's service.
"Lakers, less so, but they'll have the money, the history, and the good weather to push on him. Guys have signed with teams for much worse reasons than that," Brigham said.
Aside from the Suns and the Lakers, Cleveland will still be in the running for Deng, but is still unknown at this point whether or not the Cavaliers intend to keep Deng, who averaged 16.0 points and 5.7 rebounds per game this season.
But from the looks of it, the Cavaliers will likely let Deng go this summer after luckily getting the first overall pick in the highly anticipated 2014 NBA Draft, wherein they are reportedly considering picking Andrew Wiggins or Jabari -- two players who can take Deng's role in the starting unit.
The Dallas Mavericks and the Atlanta Hawks are also expected to pursue Deng this offseason in hopes of solidifying their title chances next season.
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