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Deng working toward trade or buyout from Lakers

Kelvin Kuo / USA TODAY Sports

It's become painfully clear Luol Deng doesn't have a future with the Los Angeles Lakers, which is why he's looking at solutions to start anew elsewhere.

Deng told ESPN's Ramona Shelburne that he and his agent, Octagon Sports' Jeff Austin, have been working with the organization to initiate a change of scenery, either through a trade or buyout.

"It definitely hurts," said Deng after Monday's practice. "But the only answer for me now is to prove myself away from LA. I'm not asked to play, I'm not in the rotation so I can't prove myself here.

"Most of these young guys don't understand the business of basketball, so if I come in here and I'm angry every day, I'm taking something away from them. I have to be smiling, I have to be in the best mood I can be in, because they're living their dream of being an NBA player."

The now 32-year-old was signed to a four-year, $72-million deal during the 2016 offseason. With the Lakers building around its youth, though, Deng has been unable to crack the rotation ahead of rookie Kyle Kuzma and Julius Randle. Even Larry Nance Jr.'s fractured left hand hasn't cleared up playing time for Deng, who has suited up for a grand total of 13 minutes with nine DNP's for the 5-5 Lakers this season.

Despite not knowing what his immediate future holds, Deng vows not to become a distraction, keeping his body ready for the day his name is called, whether that's in Los Angeles or with another team altogether.

"I'm just being patient," said Deng. "Throughout my career I've never really been a guy who created drama or wanted to deal with drama. At the end of the day I know what it is, I know I can play the game. But it's the situation that I came into."

Deng started 49 of his 56 appearances last season, but was shut down for the final 22 games so head coach Luke Walton could give his younger talent more run. He averaged 7.6 points and 5.3 rebounds on 38.7 percent shooting when he saw the floor.

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