Luol Deng close to signing with Atlanta Hawks

[Richesly]

USAToday's Sam Amick reports that although Luol Deng is still in Europe, he was slated to speak with Atlanta Hawks head coach Mike Budenholzer Thursday night.

Atlanta Hawks head coach Mike Budenholzer was slated to speak with Luol Deng on the phone Thursday night as a free agency pitch according to a report by USA Today's Sam Amick. Deng is still in Europe and isn't expected to start meeting face-to-face with teams until next week but the Hawks were granted an early pitch.

According to a person with knowledge of the situation, Deng was expected to speak with Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer about the possible partnership on Thursday night. The person spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because of the private nature of the talks.
The Hawks agreed to terms with free agent Thabo Sefolosha on Thursday and have around $11 million remaining in cap space. The report also indicates that Deng is currently seeking a deal worth around $12 million.

Even with the Hawks getting their pitch in early, Deng will have a number of suitors so he is unlikely to make a decision early in the process.

:)

[smoovegittar]

Solid player. Hope Atlanta gets him.

[Darius]

Where does it say close to signing anywhere in that article?

[Richesly]

Solid player. Hope Atlanta gets him.

Sefolosha and Deng are apparently best friends.

[Richesly]

Where does it say close to signing anywhere in that article?

It's a title with pure speculation in it. Journalism 101, granted I didn't write the article.

[-Lebron23-]

Sefolosha and Deng are apparently best friends.
And a terrible fit on the court together

[D-Rose]

Where does it say close to signing anywhere in that article?
I don't see that in there either...

Deng will speak to the Hawks but also others like Heat, Mavs, and news is that he's personally had a talk with Doc Rivers...would require a S&T.

[Richesly]

I don't see that in there either...

Deng will speak to the Hawks but also others like Heat, Mavs, and news is that he's personally had a talk with Doc Rivers...would require a S&T.

He has already spoken to the Hawks. He did it yesterday.

[Smook A.]

If the Hawks get him along with a fully healthy Al Horford at the start of the season, they will be a top 5 team in the East.

1. Miami (If the Big 3 stay)
2. Pacers/Bulls
3. Bulls/Pacers
4. Raptors
5. Hawks

[Richesly]

If the Hawks get him along with a fully healthy Al Horford at the start of the season, they will be a top 4-5 team in the East.

They were already the third seed in the east before Al Horford, arguably the best big man in the east right now, went down.

He was putting up 18/9 on 54% shooting before going down.

After Horford went down, injuries occured to Kyle Korver, DMC, Teague, and millsap that caused the Hawks to drop even more.

[smoovegittar]

If the Hawks get him along with a fully healthy Al Horford at the start of the season, they will be a top 5 team in the East.

1. Miami (If the Big 3 stay)
2. Pacers/Bulls
3. Bull/Pacers
4. Raptors
5. Hawks
Top 5? Maybe. But they will open some eyes and fill some seats. Hawks NEED this.

[Akrazotile]

Hm, I like the move if it indeed gets made.

This Hawks team if healthy is pretty solid. Not sure what their bench depth looks like but on paper they have a pretty nice starting 5.

[Haymaker]

Deng is too expensive. He should get no more than 2 yrs contract at that price.

[roffie]

wat bout caroll?

[JohnMax]

If Teague takes next step. Hawks are top 3 team in East.

[Jameerthefear]

overpay. deng blows.

[BoNafidde]

Why wouldnt he sign with a contender. smh

[BlazerRed]

If the Hawks get him along with a fully healthy Al Horford at the start of the season, they will be a top 5 team in the East.

1. Miami (If the Big 3 stay)
2. Pacers/Bulls
3. Bulls/Pacers
4. Raptors
5. Hawks
Lets not act like top 5 in the East is worth anything :oldlol:

[bagelred]

You know where Deng would fit in? I'm thinking Bulls...Bulls could use a scorer/defender like Deng....wonder how that would look.

[lilgodfather1]

If the Hawks get Deng, and make an offer to Stephenson, I think they would be the second best team in the East. Would be good for them.

[GimmeThat]

projected Marvin Williams got here late folks!


yup, still going to hell.

[-Lebron23-]

If the Hawks get Deng, and make an offer to Stephenson, I think they would be the second best team in the East. Would be good for them.

I doubt they will go for both though, they already have Korver and Sefolosha.

I suggested a few days ago here that Atlanta would be a great landing spot for Stephenson and a Hawks fan responded that management had already said they wouldn't even make an offer, not sure if that was true though :confusedshrug:

[HylianNightmare]

Solid addition to a already very solid team. I'd like to see the hawks get a star instead though

[To4]

Why is Luol Deng so overrated?

[Akrazotile]

Why is Luol Deng so overrated?


By who? Most people are simply saying he fits in nicely on that squad. Which he does.

[hawksdogsbraves]

Not totally sold on Deng, but I think we'd be better than 5th in the East if we got him.

Indy will take a big step back if they lose their second best player, Toronto is overrated, and Chicago will only be better if they land Melo.

Don't forget we're also bringing back an All-Star center to the squad that nearly beat the Pacers in the playoffs. And we have a top 5 coach in the league, only one in the East who's on Bud's level is Thibs.

[El Kabong]

Why wouldnt he sign with a contender. smh
Because a contender isn't going to pony up the amount he wants.

So-so move. It may make the Hawks a top 3 team in the East, but that's probably still not good enough for them to do any serious damage. Could be another 90's Mookie Blaylock/Steve Smith/Christian Laettner/Dikembe Mutombo, 50 win, 2nd round exit type team if they get everyone healthy. Still, as said, if the chips fall the right way they could be a Conference Finals team in the East.

[Haymaker]

Why is Luol Deng so overrated?
Not overrated but he's about to be overpaid.

[Hotlantadude81]

:)

That's not what this says at all.

http://www.peachtreehoops.com/2014/7/4/5870487/2014-nba-free-agency-rumors-luol-deng-atlanta-hawks

All it says is that they were granted the earliest pitch.

There is still good that they are targetting something better.

[DukeDelonte13]

i think it would be a really really good pick up for the hawks.

[Uncle Drew]

Lol, have fun with a washed up 29 year old. Thibs ran him to the ground. He plays like he's 43 really.

[Hotlantadude81]

Lol, have fun with a washed up 29 year old. Thibs ran him to the ground. He plays like he's 43 really.

I'm hoping that he will sign with Dallas or someone like that.

But when you consider the fact that Deng is supposed to be friends with Thabo and Korver it looks like the Hawks did the same thing they did when they got Lou Williams a few years ago in the hopes that they could attract Dwight Howard.

[DMAVS41]

Well, that is too much to spend for the Mavs so I guess we are out.

Would be so great if we could get Ariza for 3 years 27 million. I'd actually be willing to go to 4 years 36 million for Ariza.

Seems like we could sign Ariza/Harris for the same price Deng would cost. Ariza's superior 3 point shooting probably helps us a bit more than Deng's slightly better all around play and defense.

Ugh...have a feeling we are going to scavenge again and end up with Thomas or Stephenson. Probably good value, but not what our team needs.


The other problem is that Harris is now going to cost ups something like 16 million over 3 years...as Collison just ****ed up the market by getting just that. Honestly I'd rather pay Thomas 3 years 25 million than Harris 3 years 16 million. Not looking great for the Mavs right now...hopefully we turn it around like we did last year.

[scott0326]

If the Hawks get him along with a fully healthy Al Horford at the start of the season, they will be a top 5 team in the East.

1. Miami (If the Big 3 stay)
2. Pacers/Bulls
3. Bulls/Pacers
4. Raptors
5. Hawks
Wizards > Hawks

[Finger Roll]

Why is Luol Deng so overrated?


thank you.

I don't get it either.

[dreamwarrior]

let me guess, 3 year, $60 million

[LBJ4MVP23]

Very good player, better than Gordon Hayward when fully healthy imo. But he is so injury prone that I feel his best days are behind him.

However here is another free agent the Heat are not getting. I would take about 20-30 players over wade at this point easily and the Heat cant bring in anyone.

[theoneneo]

If the Hawks get him along with a fully healthy Al Horford at the start of the season, they will be a top 5 team in the East.

1. Miami (If the Big 3 stay)
2. Pacers/Bulls
3. Bulls/Pacers
4. Raptors
5. Hawks

Me and 4 guys from the park can be a top 5 team in the east tho :lol

[hawkfan]

If the Hawks are going to pay 12 million per year for Deng (and we have some cap holds which can be released to add 3 million to the Hawks available 11.5 million), I would rather we go ahead and give Gordon Hayward a 14 million contract, since he is younger.

But I would rather save that money until next year when we can make a push for Kevin Love and another piece.

[andremiller07]

Terrible signing by ATL, Deng's body will break down soon and DeMar Carroll was a excellent fit/2 way player they are better iff gettubg a good bench or a really athletic 2 guard. Carroll is a very solid starting SF no need to waste money on Deng.

[ReturnofJPR]

Sefolosha and Deng are apparently best friends.

They're trying to be like the 2008 Bulls Lol

[longtime lurker]

:applause: Atlanta always striving towards mediocrity.

[Meticode]

:applause: Atlanta always striving towards mediocrity.
What do you think they should do?

[Artillery]

The other problem is that Harris is now going to cost ups something like 16 million over 3 years...as Collison just ****ed up the market by getting just that.

That Collison contract is disgraceful. Spurs caught a break with Mills and his shoulder injury. Otherwise, they would have had to overpay too.

[ABG]

:applause: Atlanta always striving towards mediocrity.
yep

[Hotlantadude81]

Wizards > Hawks

Washington better keep Ariza and hope that last year was not a fluke because Ariza has traditionally been a very inconsistent player. Plus, Wall is the only all star that Washington has.

Washington had a really healthy team last year outside of Nene (a role player) and you still only managed 43 wins.

[hawkfan]

Another and better option for the Hawks is a two year deal for Evan Turner (team option on second year, fully unguaranteed) for $17.4 million.

Turner's option was 8.7 million. He'll be a locker room problem if he doesn't get that.

It's a risk, but it is one worth taking for one year. He didn't get developed properly in Philadelphia and then got lost in the shuffle in Indy. But he is still young and hopefully those experiences will force him to work on his game.

If he does that and improves (and sometimes that happens), then it is worth it. He could still be a 15/6 per game and the Hawks have a need for a dependable small forward. DeMarre Carroll is a nice role player, more suited to being an energy guy off the bench.

If it doesn't work out, the Hawks can release him and then use that cap space somewhere else.