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January 14, 2014With the summer of 2014 on the horizon, newly acquired Cavs forward Luol Deng realizes the upcoming offseason is not only pivotal for his career, but looms large for the Cavaliers’ franchise.
Deng’s contract is set to expire on July 1st, but the eighth-year man out of Duke is well aware he’s not the only high-priced small forward who may factor in the Cavaliers plans this summer. Deng spoke with Yahoo! Sports regarding the impending LeBron James free agency saga as well as his own.
“He’s a great player, why wouldn’t you look at him?” Deng told Yahoo Sports. “If he wants to come back home, that’s great for him and great for this organization. He’s a great player. Why not?
Despite never being a free agent, the veteran Deng has a level head on his shoulders regarding his uncertain future.
“I’m all right with that. I’m here to do what I can do and be Luol Deng. I don’t really worry about it. I don’t have the mindset that I can control what everyone else thinks. I just do what I can do and try to be the best at what I do.”
The Cavaliers have until June 30 to sign Deng to an extension, after which Deng will become a free agent.
“I’m very open to sit down to talk,” Deng said. “At the same time, I’m OK with waiting until the summer.”
While it may be advantageous for the Cavaliers to wait until the summer to work with Deng on a new deal, waiting is also in Deng’s best interest financially. If Deng and the Cavaliers reach an agreement on an extension prior to Deng hitting free agency, the maximum length of that contract is three years, but if Deng negotiates a new deal after becoming a free agent he’s eligible to sign a five-year contract.
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Photo: Mark Duncan, AP
1 Comment
Makes sense for Louuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu! IF Grant was able to resign him and bring back a certain French guy that would be quite a coup. Unfortunately the Cavaliers really need to start playing a lot better and sooner rather then later despite how weak the Eastern Conference is playing. That loss to the Kings was more then an embarrassment if you ask me. They take two steps forward with two straight wins one to start a west coast trip then take a huge step back with a pummeling at the hands of the second worst western conference team in the Kings.