The Lakers and Deng haven't discussed a buyout since late November, but he can simply wait until the season is over to get the full balance of the $37 million owed to him once the Lakers inevitably use the waive and stretch provision to clear salary-cap space. How could the Lakers avoid Deng's money languishing on the cap for six years with the waive and stretch? Well, Deng would have to be so desperate to leave Los Angeles before season's end to sign elsewhere on a minimum deal that he'd forfeit the $18.8 million on the 2019-20 season of his contract and accept a buyout. That makes little sense, getting just a half-season of freedom to likely play only a few minutes per game elsewhere.
Atlanta is pushing to unload veterans and gather more draft picks and young players. Bazemore,
Ersan Ilyasova and
Marco Belinelli are expendable.
The Bulls are still planning to trade forward
Nikola Mirotic, which can't happen until Jan. 15 or without his permission, based on his contract. Mirotic has been intrigued with the
Utah Jazz, whose coach, Quin Snyder, has a reputation for maximizing offensive talent.
Memphis wants to find a first-round pick for
Tyreke Evans, but that is likely to prove difficult. The Grizzlies have missed in several drafts on first-rounders, including the waiving of 2015 No. 17 pick Wade Baldwin, and need to replenish their stock of picks. As a rental on an expiring deal, it is hard to imagine Evans delivering that kind of a return.