The Lakers added another veteran Saturday, agreeing to a four-year, $72-million deal with small forward Luol Deng.
Deng, 31, typically does a little bit of everything on the court and gives the Lakers someone to fill the position until Brandon Ingram is ready to start.
The Lakers have more than $12 million left to spend toward next season’s payroll after also agreeing to terms with center Timofey Mozgov (four years, $64 million) and guard Jordan Clarkson (four years, $50 million) since free agency began Thursday night.
Deng was down on the Lakers’ wish list a bit, but they could not attract Nicolas Batum or Kent Bazemore with offers to play small forward.
Deng averaged only 12.3 points last season for Miami, the lowest since he was a rookie with Chicago in 2004-05. He finished the regular season on a better note, averaging 15.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists after the All-Star game. His uptick in production was in step with Chris Bosh’s sitting out because of blood clots.
Deng was more than solid for the Heat in a first-round playoff series against Charlotte but a non-factor in the Eastern Conference semifinals against Toronto, averaging only 7.6 points and shooting 35.8% as the Heat lost in seven games.
Deng is in line with Lakers Coach Luke Walton’s desire to add players with character. In fact, Heat President Pat Riley called Deng a “high-character guy” last season.
“He’s a great leader. We love him,” Riley said.
Deng made $10 million last season.
Listed at 6-feet-9 and 220 pounds, he also could play power forward in a small-ball lineup for the Lakers.
The Vertical first reported Deng’s agreement.
