The NBA Free Agents are thrust into the spotlight. Luol Deng is one of the top small forwards of you consider that LeBron James is not really on the table.

Deng could assume the leadership role with the young Cavs-along with fellow Duke Blue Devil Kyrie Irving. He was complaining about the locker room atmosphere after his mid-season trade, but he has since rescinded that observation.

From Morning Journal.com:  "It's a distraction. I mean all this stuff that I hear, but when we're in the locker room with these guys every day, they love each other. I can't say one word or one incident, and when we get on the court, we never think twice about it."
Deng, traded to the Cavs on Jan. 7, believes if the two players reach their vast potential, it could pay off in a major way."
"They have to be willing to work together, watch tape together, watch tape with the coach. They've shown they can play together. There's times where they've looked great. They're human, but in terms of can they play together? Yeah. I've played in this league for 10 years and I know they can."

While that's a good indicator for Deng, it is unlikely that he will choose to stay with the Cavs. ESPN has reported that Doc Rivers and the LA Clippers are in the market for a good defensive small forward like him. For Deng, it also gets him back to a winning team.

From ESPN:

 "The Clippers might be better suited pursuing a sign-and-trade for Luol Deng, who is unlikely to return to the Cavs, by sending Barnes (whose 2015-16 salary is only $1 million guaranteed) and Dudley along with a first-round pick swap in 2016. Willie Green's non-guaranteed 2014-15 deal can be waived, saving them roughly $1.4 million (he can be brought back for a one-year veteran minimum deal that would show up as only $915,243 on the books). Additionally, continuing their recent trend of adding veteran contributors on minimum deals, they can roll the dice on someone like Charlie Villanueva as a cheap 3-point threat who can rebound and Nazr Mohammed as another big body."

The Clippers need to make some moves and Deng may even have to make a financial sacrifice-something that he hinted he would not do for the Chicago Bulls, his team of 10 years.

The Clippers hope that Deng would have a more realistic view of his value and that a championship chase with CP3 and Griffin would be enough of an incentive.