2014 NBA Free Agency Rumors & Predictions: Luol Deng Has Clippers, Hawks As Suitors! He's Also 'Plan B' For Carmelo Candidates!

The 2014 NBA Free Agency Rumors & Predictions is starting to look around after the Carmelo and LeBron Tours are done and we are stuck in a waiting game. Luol Deng has serious suitors, and when Carmelo makes his decision, which will probably be to stay in New York, he is pretty much the Plan B.

There won't be any billboards and junkets for Deng, but he's a very decent small forward with 10 years of experience. He could be a valuable piece for a team on a title chase, like the LA Clippers.

From Fully Clips (Clippers fan blog):

 "Why do the Clippers need to enforce a sign-and-trade in order to acquire Luol Deng? They lack the cap space to sign him outright. With so much of the cap dedicated to the Big 3 (Paul, Griffin, Jordan) and the role players (Redick, Barnes, Dudley, Crawford), there's no room for a signing worth $8-$10 million which is what Deng is expected to command."

Another intriguing destination is the Atlanta Hawks. From USA Today:

"The Hawks are slated to have about $11.5 million in salary cap room once the free agency moratorium lifts on July 10. Their recent agreement with former Oklahoma City Thunder guard Thabo Sefolosha on a four-year, $12 million deal appears to have helped their efforts to land Deng. The two players were together with the Chicago Bulls from 2006 to 2009 and had a very good relationship. The same goes for Hawks sharpshooter Kyle Korver, who was with Deng in Chicago from 2010 to 2012. Deng spent his first nine seasons in Chicago before he was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in January."

Deng is a small forward that can offer solid scoring. Although not at Carmelo's level, he is a better wing defender. Chicago claims to have offered him a $ 30 million/3 year deal that he refused. He is estimated to go somewhere at 8-10 million. However, if the market goes crazy, he can go as high as $ 12 million.

Will he choose the Clippers to stay in championship contention or will he join a possible rising team like the Hawks? Or..he could even return to Chicago.