SALT LAKE CITY, UT – OCTOBER 28: Luol Deng #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks to shoot the ball during their game against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena on October 28, 2016 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images)

It was ridiculous enough that the Lakers spent a combined $136 million during the offseason on average big man Timofey Mosgov and aging wing Luol Deng. What makes it even more absurd is Los Angeles gave Deng a four-year deal for $72 million when the next highest bidder was Washington at $20 million less.

The Wizards, who offered Deng a three-year deal worth about $52 million, were “stunned” by the Lakers’ offer, according to ESPN’s Zach Lowe. And if any team should be jaded by careless spending, it should be the one based in Washington D.C.

While the difference per year is less than $1 million, giving a 31-year-old with a history of injuries that kind of money for four years could haunt the franchise for a while. Because of the Mosgov and Deng contracts, the Lakers may have trouble signing just one max-level deal next offseason, and Lowe says it will be “almost impossible” for them to ink two.

Deng is posting career-low averages of 8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists, and career-low shooting number at 39% from the field and 65.7% at the foul line. Mosgov isn’t doing much better with 7.8 points and 5 rebounds per game.

While the Lakers came out as losers with Deng, the Wizards didn’t necessarily came out as winners. They gave center Ian Mahinmi a four-year, $64 million deal after his breakout season in Indiana at 29-years-old, but he has played only one game this season due to knee issues.

[ESPN]

About Jesse Kramer

Jesse is a writer and editor for The Comeback. He has also worked for SI.com and runs The Catch and Shoot, a college basketball website based in Chicago. He is a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. Follow Jesse on Twitter @Jesse_Kramer.