NBA Trade Rumors: Lakers open to moving Luol Deng?

The Los Angeles Lakers could be open to moving Luol Deng before the deadline, with veteran struggling to find his place in the team's youth movement.

Deng has been linked to the rumor mill in the past few weeks, with Minnesota Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau reportedly showing interests in acquiring a veteran who can help his team win-now. While the Lakers have yet to put Deng on the trading block, ESPN's Marc Stein insisted LA trading the 31-year-old will remain a thought to ponder for the team.

"Expect the volume to keep rising on questions about Luol Deng and where he fits with this team," Stein wrote. "Who knows what sort of market would await the Lakers even if they tried to trade him, but the topic seems unlikely to fade."

Deng, who signed to a four-year $72 million contract with the Lakers this past summer, is only averaging a career-low 6.9 points a game, while shooting a disappointing 34.3 percent from the field. But Deng's value for the Lakers is probably far from just his contributions on both ends of the floor. With the Lakers having a pack of young talents on their roster, Deng comes in as a locker room presence and mentor to the likes of D'Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson, Julius Randle and Brandon Ingram.

However, trading Deng could still become a possibility, especially if the Lakers could get valuable assets in return.

Teams like the Timberwolves, who are in need of veteran help, could explore trading for Deng using one of their own talented youngsters in Zach Lavine and Andrew Wiggins. Contenders like the Houston Rockets have also emerged as a potential landing spot for Deng in exchange for Trevor Ariza and Corey Brewer, who could come in handy if the Lakers make it to the playoffs.

The Lakers are finally able to turn things around in Tinsel town and are poised for a better campaign this year. Trading Deng may not be part of the team's to-do list before the deadline, but if the Lakers get a clearer view of their position in the West, a deal involving the veteran wing could be worth considering.