Memphis Grizzlies: Revisiting Chandler Parsons Signing

Luol Deng – 4 yrs/$72 million

Deng as a potential Parsons replacement has to be graded on a bit of a curve. As signed, his contract looks like a total bust after his production fell off a cliff last year. But much of that sharp decline can be attributed to poor fit and indifference on the youth-movement Lakers.

Deng averaged a career-worst 7.6 ppg on an also-career-worst 44.7 effective field goal percentage, playing a – you guessed it – career-low 26 minutes per game. It’s not difficult to imagine his numbers being noticeably better as an engaged cog in a balanced Memphis attack (13.1 ppg on better than 51.5 efg% over two prior seasons in Miami).

While Deng has lost a step from his All-NBA Defense days, he’s still a net-plus stopper with size to body lots of stretch-4’s. His veteran presence would’ve also been a great addition to a Grizz locker room full of malleable youngsters.

That said, his best days are behind him. While he may not have sunk as quickly in a different situation, a 32-year-old with all those Tom Thibodeau miles on his legs would’ve been a burden by the end of this contract.

Hypothetical Grade: C+