Heat's Deng on trade rumors: 'I'm not the one asking for a trade'

Luol Deng couldn't even make it through half a season in Miami before the Heat forward found himself in trade rumors, but he clarified Thursday that he's not looking to get out of town.

"I've had no issues," Deng said Thursday, as reported by The Palm Beach Post's Jason Lieser. "My whole thing this year has been trying to get it right. It's never been that I'm unhappy. Just because there are trade rumors. I'm not the one asking for a trade... I'm not the one starting the rumors or whatever’s going on. I know just as much as you, honestly."

Deng, who signed a short, two-year deal with the Heat in July, was included in an ESPN report about the Memphis Grizzlies seeking an upgrade at small forward, along with Boston Celtics forward Jeff Green.

"It's not in my hands or anything," Deng said. "I've just gotta continue doing what I need to do."

While trading Deng so soon after adding him to the mix seems unlikely, the Heat are off to a disappointing start and sit in eighth place in the weak Eastern Conference. They're also not exactly swimming in future assets.

Deng is averaging 14.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.2 steals in 33 games with the Heat. The 29-year-old is shooting 50 percent from the field and 36 percent from three-point range, posting a career-high Effective Field Goal Percentage of 55.3 in his 11th season.