TUESDAY, 4:44pm: The deal is official, the team announced via press release.
“Signing Luol Deng is one of the most important free agent signings that we have ever had in the history of the franchise,” team president Pat Riley said in the statement. “He is a proven All-Star and quintessential team player, both as a scorer, as well as an All-NBA defender. He brings the attitude of a warrior and competes every single night against the very, very best. We are thrilled to welcome him to the Heat family.”
SUNDAY, 1:36pm: The Heat are set to sign Luol Deng, tweets Shams Charania of RealGM. It’s a two-year, $20MM deal and includes a player option on year two, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports (on Twitter).
Deng will now help the Heat kick off of a brand new era that they hoped they would never have to see. Fortunately for Miami, even though LeBron James is returning to Cleveland, Chris Bosh will be sticking around on a max deal and it sounds as though Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem will be re-signing as well. Miami may not be world beaters this season, but they at least have some continuity and a good chance at returning to the postseason.
This morning it was reported that Pat Riley & Co. were in the lead for the small forward with the Mavericks, Suns, and Hawks also in the mix. The Ron Shade client was said to have been turning down offers that had an average annual value of $10MM, but he either couldn’t drum up a better deal or took a little less to enjoy one of the NBA’s most beautiful cities. Regardless of how it came together, it’s a good value for the Heat when considering the contracts given to Gordon Hayward and Chandler Parsons this offseason.
For his career, Deng has averaged 16.0 PPG, 6.3 RPG, and 2.5 APG over ten NBA seasons.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
GET SOME!!
I still want to see what the bench will look like..and who the rim protector will be. I guess they are really hoping Anderson comes back. I would be careful though with Deng, one reason I really thought he would go to Atlanta was he could get some rest. If he plays 40 minutes a night, he will be worn out come March. Thibs did a good job making his 30 year old body close to that of a 35 year old.
ya I mentioned his recent injury history and the workload in another article. Still, to get him with the flexible contract they gave him was really good. I expect them to go after a big man. Obviously, I dont think Greg Monroe is a possibility b/c of the variables involved, but if Emeka Okafor is healthy, that could be a great fit. I would like to see them add 1 more player on the wing with some athleticism and that can knock down 3s, and those guys are out there. They can fill out the last 3 spots (after resigning Haslem and Birdman obviously, which they are about to do) however they so choose. Obviously the team would be relying on injury risks, but if they stay relatively healthy, thats a good team, and easily a top 4 seed in the East
How do you think James Ennis does?
I really dont know. Its hard to say with any rookie until you se them play in an actual NBA game. I know the Heat were super high on him last year, and are even more so now. He seems to be really athletic and can shoot the 3 pretty well. If that translates, then its exactly what we needed last year, and obviously could use it moving forward…They liked Erik Griffin last year too, but obviously didnt have space, and now he is on Dallas’ summer league team. If you get a chance, you should check him out. He is ridonkulously athletic.
I hate Atlanta traded Ennis to Miami last year. I went and watched his film and thought he could be a decent #3 off the bench. He lit it up this past year, in I believe the Australian league…not sure how much competition he had, though. Atlanta got Lamar Patterson from the Bucks though this year on draft night, he can play the 1, 2, or 3 at about 6’5 225. I think he may spend a year in the Euro league, and hopefully be ready next year.
This makes no sense, whatsoever. This may come off as sour grapes from a Hawks fan, but I just don’t see why he’d rather go to Miami right now when if he came to Atlanta they could have seriously competed (which I still believe they can). I especially don’t get what changed Deng’s mind to accept a smaller contract. I never expected him to get 14, but wow. Riley knew that Granger couldn’t be the starting SF. I don’t know how he got him for 2/20 when Atlanta offered a reported 3/35, but good for Riles.
Not bad for a guy who has declined the last few years
Pat Riley, JUST TOO FILTHY!
When we look back at this off season in a few years, it will look like MIA traded Lebron James for Luol Deng straight up LOL.
i think them cutting miller was what started lebron thinking about leaving.