As expected, veteran small forward Luol Deng has agreed to a one-year deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves, according to a report from Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
Deng and the Los Angeles Lakers reached a buyout agreement last week. The two-time All-Star met with Minnesota president/coach Tom Thibodeau on Monday and the sides were able to come to terms on a deal.
Free agent forward Luol Deng met with Minnesota president/coach Tom Thibodeau today and sides are finalizing a one-year deal, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 10, 2018
Thibodeau coached Deng with the Chicago Bulls and the two have a very close bond. Minnesota also has three players on the team who have a strong rapport with Deng in star small forward Jimmy Butler, power forward Taj Gibson and point guard Derrick Rose.
Per ESPN’s report, Thibodeau has made no promises to Deng on playing time.
Deng has career averages of 15.0 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 880 NBA games with the Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Lakers. He’s not the same player he once was, but Deng still provides great veteran leadership in the locker room, is a high IQ player and has valuable playoff experience. In 62 postseason games, Deng has posted averages of 15.9 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists.
The seventh overall pick in the 2004 draft, Deng has shot 45.5 percent from the floor and 33.2 percent from beyond the arc in his career.
