Luol Deng

[Derek]

If we're rolling with Kyrie, Dion, and Bennett as our core I think elite defense trumps the need for a knockdown shooter at the SF position.

Also Luol isn't the best shooter but he still spaces the floor. Teams have to respect his shot and I think that would suffice in terms of what we need.

I don't think Luol helps space the floor at all. We really need a dead eye shooter in that spot. If Irving, Waiters and Bennett can't work well enough defensively then it's probably not a core that's worth keeping together.

 

[kidduck]

Based on his time with the Cavs , Deng needs to find the fountain of youth.

Thibs is a good coach, but runs his best players into the ground.

 

[billmac91]

Not a fit for what Griffin wants on this roster.

 

[MD13]

The guy is about a year or two from being completely washed up. Please, let's not be the team that overpays for him in the twilight of his career.

 

[Cashius X]

Lol, you guys are so opposed to resigning Luol but don't realize that the market for SFs is incredibly dry.

Who else would you want? Only guy we realistically have a shot at is LeBron and we already know the deal with him. Melo will never come here. Hayward & Parsons are restricted and by all accounts their respective teams seem to be of the mindset that they will match every offer sheet. That leaves us with Trevor (Contract Year All-Star) Ariza, and a bunch of underwhelming names rounding out the field. Deng may not be the best SF available, but he'd be definitely bring stability to our SF situation.

I'm over with going into every summer wondering who we'll trot out at the 3 for the next season. Much rather have some stability with a reliable player. Also worth noting, Luol was playing hurt during his time with us. It's not far-fetched to believe that we haven't seen the best he could offer.

 

[Derek]

I watched him play in Chicago. Healthy or not, I know he's not the guy I want playing SF for us. The point is moot though since he won't be back due to a mutual lack of interest.

 

[MirORich]

Things I like about Luol:

-Mentor for Embiid
-Was playing hurt last year.
-Was not suited for Mike Browns offense.
-Easier to sign a guy who has already been here than convince a well sought after guy to choose to come here for the first time.

Some have suggested the bridges are too far burnt in both directions with Luol though, so it might take some serious damage control and serious cash overpayment if the Cavs even want to go down that road.

Another option is to S&T him to his preferred destination and recoup the picks we have to Chicago as best we can.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

Lol, you guys are so opposed to resigning Luol but don't realize that the market for SFs is incredibly dry.

Who else would you want? Only guy we realistically have a shot at is LeBron and we already know the deal with him. Melo will never come here. Hayward & Parsons are restricted and by all accounts their respective teams seem to be of the mindset that they will match every offer sheet. That leaves us with Trevor (Contract Year All-Star) Ariza, and a bunch of underwhelming names rounding out the field. Deng may not be the best SF available, but he'd be definitely bring stability to our SF situation.

It's hard to argue with that. Deng isn't our ideal SF, but he's a smart vet who defends the position well. We may not have a better option, at least not for this year.

The Deng experiment last season did not go well. But as has been pointed out, he was hurt. And more importantly, we're bringing in a new coach. Those are reasons to expect that things may be better than they were last season. Depending on the market, and what our new coach thinks, I'd be fine with re-signing him assuming he was willing to stay. But that likely would take a hell of a sales job from the new coach.

 

[brownindian]

Funny how people make fun of Dwayne Wade for his breakdown and how it cost Miami the championship, yet want to sign Deng and want to aim for the championship.

 

[The Process God]

Things I like about Luol:

-Mentor for Embiid
-Was playing hurt last year.
-Was not suited for Mike Browns offense.
-Easier to sign a guy who has already been here than convince a well sought after guy to choose to come here for the first time.

Some have suggested the bridges are too far burnt in both directions with Luol though, so it might take some serious damage control and serious cash overpayment if the Cavs even want to go down that road.

Another option is to S&T him to his preferred destination and recoup the picks we have to Chicago as best we can.

Things I don't like about Luol:

-Not a great shooter from 3-pt range, which is going to be key in our offense.
-He's got A LOT of miles on him and will be an old 30 by the time he comes back next season.
-He's more half-court, whereas we're wanting to be a fast-paced, run'n'gun team.
-He shied away from a mentor role last season, and we want mentors.

Chandler Parsons, Gordon Hayward, or Trevor Ariza would be better finds, IMO. Hayward is my top choice of the 3.

 

[MirORich]

Things I don't like about Luol:

-Not a great shooter from 3-pt range, which is going to be key in our offense.
-He's got A LOT of miles on him and will be an old 30 by the time he comes back next season.
-He's more half-court, whereas we're wanting to be a fast-paced, run'n'gun team.
-He shied away from a mentor role last season, and we want mentors.

Chandler Parsons, Gordon Hayward, or Trevor Ariza would be better finds, IMO. Hayward is my top choice of the 3.

These are all fair points. He is not my favorite choice by far. I have not yet decided whether I like the idea of just settling for whatever SF we end up with(I don't believe we will be getting LBJ, Melo, Ariza, Parsons, or Hayward) or trying for Deng because he's the most gettable of the decent SF options. But I'm biased because I don't believe he's as broke down as others do.

As far as the mentor think, I meant more the African connection between Embiid and Deng. It's also a little easier to establish a mentorship and leadership role on a team you start off with in the preseason with vs. getting traded into a hornets nest in January and having the man who traded for you fired a month later.

All that said, I absolutely understand the points being made by those who don't want him here next year under any circumstance. I am hopeful we can get something from him via S&T

 

[Fuggles]

How is this thread active.

 

[Cashius X]

How is this thread active.

I brought it back to life.

And I know last season didn't end well between us and Luol's camp but maybe with all that has changed recently (New coach, new GM, #1 pick, Kyrie being locked in long-term) both sides will have a change of heart.

Would be a great fit for both sides.

Also for those of you citing his poor fit with the offense Griffin has in mind I don't think that will be a problem. Phoenix is rumored to be a team looking to be very interested in Luol come FA and they have a very up-tempo, up-and-down team. He's only been in one system his entire career (I don't think we had an offensive "system" last season) so I think it's premature to say he can't succeed playing on an up-tempo team. There is nothing to base that thinking on.

 

[Snarly]

I brought it back to life.

And I know last season didn't end well between us and Luol's camp but maybe with all that has changed recently (New coach, new GM, #1 pick, Kyrie being locked in long-term) both sides will have a change of heart.

Would be a great fit for both sides.

Also for those of you citing his poor fit with the offense Griffin has in mind I don't think that will be a problem. Phoenix is rumored to be a team looking to be very interested in Luol come FA and they have a very up-tempo, up-and-down team. He's only been in one system his entire career (I don't think we had an offensive "system" last season) so I think it's premature to say he can't succeed playing on an up-tempo team. There is nothing to base that thinking on.

I agree and really with out LeBron he Is the next best FA out there unless we manage to somehow get Parsons assuming the rockets target Melo. Also assuming we do not draft one of Wiggins or Parker and we do indeed draft Embiid that means we have a idea of who we are getting VIA free agency or trade. I do not count Deng out until the writing Is on the wall. If we take Embiid we can be sure we are getting one of Parsons, Deng, Hayward, Or even LeBron. At worst we would get the infamous Richard Jefferson.

 

[mcfly]

For the money, $11 million+ per season, I would still prefer to attempt to poach Parsons or Hayward.