Los Angeles Lakers: Luol Deng Their Most Important Offseason Signing

The Los Angeles Lakers had a very busy offseason. They drafted well with the No. 2 draft pick, got rid of some off the chaff and got some new blood in. The most important of this new crop is Luol Deng.

Luol Deng is a fantastic risk for the Los Angeles Lakers. At the age of 31, he should have a number of good seasons left in him, how many is to be decided. The Lakers signed him to a four-year contract, so they are hoping that he has at least that long.

The Lakers made a number of offseason signings which were designed to strengthen them as a team. Timofey Mozgov is the next center, after Roy Hibbert, that the Lakers are trying to bring in to shore up the defense.

Brandon Ingram, who has not signed a contract yet, is to be the replacement for Kobe Bryant. He will become a high volume shooter, hopefully at a high percentage.

Jose Calderon was also traded for, giving the Lakers another good offensive point guard. He will not give them much defense, but he will back up D’Angelo Russell as required.

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Both Marcelo Huertas and Jordan Clarkson have been re-signed, Clarkson being a fantastic long-term proposition as well as being a talent now.

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None of these are as important as Deng, however. Deng is now the bridge between the Bryant era to the Ingram era. He is the man with the experience to help make this team relevant again.

Deng has had a successful career so far, beginning with the Chicago Bulls, followed by half a season with the Cleveland Cavaliers, then most recently with the Miami Heat, where he played more due to the health issues of Chris Bosh.

Deng was one of the factors that kept Miami relevant last season, despite losing their dominant frontcourt player for more than one-third of the season.

Deng was able to average 12.3 points and 6.0 rebounds in 32.4 minutes per contest last season for Miami.

So why do I think that Deng is the most important signing for the Lakers next season when he only averaged that would be third or fourth on most teams? Simple, the experience that he brings the an inexperienced forward pack.

Brandon Ingram is a prodigious talent, the man can shoot. He was amazing in college, 17.3 points per game, 44 percent from the field and 41 percent from three. However, he has not played a single minute of regular season basketball in the NBA.

When the rookie wall hits, Deng will need to be there to support Ingram.

Julius Randle is another prodigious talent who is about to start his third season. The problem is that he missed all but one game of his rookie year with a broken leg. Larry Nance Jr. is only going into his second season.

Deng, who is able to play both forward spots will be a tremendous help when any of these players start to struggle again in the NBA.

None of these players have the protection of playing with Kobe Bryant anymore. With Bryant in the team, there was always someone there to take the focus from the young forwards. Now with Bryant gone, there is more pressure on the younger forwards.

Deng will lift some of this pressure with his experience and play.

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Deng has been in the league for a long time now, 12 years and while he will not be the main man for the Lakers, he will be the glue that holds the team together.

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Los Angeles Lakers: Luol Deng Offseason’s Most Important Signing

By Matthew Hallett | Aug 16, 2016

The Los Angeles Lakers had a very busy offseason. They drafted well with the No. 2 draft pick, got rid of some off the chaff and got some new blood in. The most important of this new crop is Luol Deng.