NBA Trade Rumors: 5 big names allegedly on the block right now

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Luol Deng, SF, Los Angeles Lakers

We all knew the Los Angeles Lakers would be looking far and wide for a trade partner for Luol Deng. Unfortunately, as was easy to expect, there’s been little to no progress in that department.

The Lakers aren’t being shy about their intent, though. Here’s this, via ESPN‘s Ramona Shelbourne:

"“Deng said he and his agent, Jeff Austin from Octagon sports management, have been working with the Lakers to resolve the situation, either via trade or buyout.”"

The problem with the trade scenario is that no one wants to take on the three years and $54 million that remain on Deng’s contract. Not only is it a wildly steep price to pay for a 32-year-old forward who isn’t even in the rotation, but there aren’t many teams out there with the cap space to take on that type of money until 2020.

A buyout seems more likely, but comes with its own fair share of hurdles. Then there’s the idea of extending him and using the stretch provision, which was recently floated by Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus. Another unorthodox approach, but it would get the Lakers much closer to having the cap space needed to sign, say, LeBron James and Paul George in 2018.

Is Deng likely to be dealt anytime soon? No. At this moment, though, the Lakers are turning over every stone hoping to find a deal they can swing to get his albatross of a contract off the books.