Twelve-year NBA veteran Luol Deng is set to become a free agent this summer and speculations abound that he will not be re-signed by the Miami Heat. One of the rumored destinations for the All-Star forward is the Oklahoma City Thunder as the team is unsure of keeping superstar Kevin Durant at the end of the season.

Like Us on Facebook

Deng, who signed a two-year, $19.8 million contract with the Heat in the summer of 2014, is in the final season of his deal, which means he will be an unrestricted free agent come July of this year.

Even though the 30-year-old Briton is gradually finding his top form in the last few games and he had been thriving in Erik Spoelstra's recent small ball experiment starting in place of the sidelined Chris Bosh at power forward, there is still no assurance that he will remain in Miami next season.

Fansided indicated that the Thunder could target him this summer if Durant decides to leave Oklahoma City for another team during his own free agency.

Although the probability of Durant leaving OKC is actually quite low, the Thunder is allegedly not leaving anything to chance as they are looking closely at the availability of Deng if that time comes.

The report noted that "Deng isn't an All-Star any more and the drop-off in production between he and Durant at the three would be vast, but Deng would provide stability out on the wing for head coach Billy Donovan should the Thunder's worst case scenario of Durant leaving after this season come to fruition".

The Miami Herald also noted of Deng's increased production after the All-Star break, which could give OKC a harder time of snagging him from the Heat if he continues to improve.

The former Duke Blue Devils standout has averaged 16.9 points and 8.8 rebounds after the All-Star festivities, a stark improvement from the 10.6 points and 4.7 boards per game production he had before it, which had caught the attention of Heat president Pat Riley.

"I'm probably more happy for him than almost anybody because, for a year and a half, he was struggling in a way," said Riley. "And the way the game is played today, (power forward) may be his natural position."

TagsNBA rumors, NBA Rumors 2016, NBA Free-Agency Rumors, NBA Free-Agency Rumors 2016, Luol Deng, Miami Heat, Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder