Los Angeles Lakers Will Reportedly Pursue Luol Deng in 2014 Free Agency

Determined to leave a disastrous two seasons behind them, the Los Angeles Lakers are already looking toward 2014 free agency.

More specifically, they're already looking at Luol Deng.

According to ESPN's Brian Windhorst, the Lakers are among the teams expected to show interest in the 28-year-old forward. While I won't say I personally saw this coming, it's implied.

Deng makes sense for a Lakers team projected to be flush with cap space and in need of additional talent to make the most of Kobe Bryant's remaining days. LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony aren't the flight risks they're made out to be, and after them, the free-agency waters are both shallow and tepid.

Realistically, Deng could be the most obtainable star on the market. Windhorst says the Cleveland Cavaliers are already exploring his trade value for fear of losing him this summer:

As they evaluate their team and try to make a deal to help them get into the playoffs, the Cleveland Cavaliers are making recently acquired Luol Deng available ahead of Thursday's trade deadline, multiple league sources told ESPN.com.

The Cavs traded three future draft picks and Andrew Bynum to the Chicago Bulls to acquire Deng on Jan. 7. But the deal hasn't yet worked out how either side hoped.

Cleveland isn't determined to trade Deng, but with his impending free agency a concern, new general manager David Griffin is testing the market to see what the veteran forward might bring.

CBS Sports' Ken Berger confirms Windhorst's findings:



While winners of five straight, the Cavs are harbingers of dysfunction, having been the quintessential example of how not to run an NBA franchise since before James even left. 

If Deng stays in Cleveland through this season, all indications are he's a legitimate flight risk. Seriously overpaying him might not even convince Deng to stick around. 
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers