NBA free agency: Lakers agree to four-year, $72 million deal with Luol Deng

The Lakers landed an established veteran that could inject both talent and leadership to complement their young roster.

The Lakers and Luol Deng agreed to a four-year, $72 million deal, according to league sources. Deng had extensive conversations with other NBA teams, including the Washington Wizards and Utah Jazz. Deng also had a meeting with the Jazz Friday, sources said.

Yet, the 31-year-old Deng narrowed in on the Lakers for a few reasons.

He likes the potential of the team’s young players, including D’Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson, Brandon Ingram, Julius Randle and Larry Nance Jr. Deng talked with Lakers coach Luke Walton and was “pleased with the conversation,” sources said. And the Lakers consistently stayed in touch with Deng’s representatives, reaching out shortly after free agency began Thursday at 9:01 p.m..

The Lakers did not establish whether Deng would be a starter or a reserve, but he’s expected to play a significant role after averaging 15.5 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists in his 12-year NBA career with stints with the Chicago Bulls (2004-14), Cleveland Cavaliers (2014) and Miami Heat (2014-16).

Although he averaged 12.3 points last season in Miami in what marked his lowest since his rookie season in Chicago (2004-05), Leng averaged 15.2 points and 8.1 rebounds following the All-Star game. That coincided with Chris Bosh’s prolonged absence because of blood clots.

Deng has cemented a strong reputation around the NBA as both a versatile forward and positive locker room influence.

“Congr[a]ts my brother,” Heat guard Dwyane Wade tweeted. “Now you can afford your own @stance socks..One of my all time favorite teammates. Proud to call you a friend!”

The Lakers have around $12 million left to spend on next season’s payroll after also agreeing to deals with center Timofey Mozgov (four years, $64 million) and Clarkson (four years, $50 million). The Lakers offered Deng a contract after Kent Bazemore declined an offer worth the same amount. Instead, Bazemore agreed to stay with Atlanta on a four-year, $70 million deal.

Deng, who was bo in Sudan, also plans to take advantage of various business and philanthropic opportunities in Los Angeles.

He will explore local initiatives with a pan-African investment fund and for his self-named foundation, which builds outdoor basketball courts and hosts clinics in various parts of Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States. Deng has invested with his recently established L.A-based holding company, D3N9, and with JUST Water, which promotes the use of paper-based bottled water. His sports agency, Octagon, also has an LA-based office.

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Mozgov, Clarkson and Deng will sign their contracts once the NBA moratorium ends on July 7. The Lakers currently have 11 players committed for the 2016-17 season.