NBA
Luol Deng Reuniting With Old Coach
Minnesota added more veteran depth (and more former Chicago Bulls players) by adding wing player Luol Deng. It’s a a one year deal worth $2.4 million, which is a relatively low risk contract for the Timberwolves. By this point in the offseason it seems to look more like a roster filling move.
This has been a rumored move since Timberwolves head coach Tom Thibodeau first took the job in 2016. The biggest issue though was that Deng was with the Lakers for a very generous 4 year $72 million deal from the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers recently just released Deng though and stretched his contract out with him making him a free agent. After that happened coach This hopped right on that bus right away. Now that he is on a vet contract though he is much more suited to his contract.
Thibodeau hasn’t given any assurance on playing time or role with the team. Speculation for it could be just a professional presence for some of the young wings on the Timberwolves squad of Andrew Wiggins, and rookies Josh Okogie and Keita Bates-Diop. Deng should fit in well though with the team regardless of the role. He is returning to a familiar system he played 4 years in. He is also reuniting with not just Thibs, but 3 former Chicago Bulls teammates Jimmy Butler, Derrick Rose, and Taj Gibson.
Deng is 33 years old with 14 years of NBA experience under his belt with plenty of playoff experience. Even in that older age, he has only played 57 games over the past two seasons for the Lakers. He could have fresher legs because of that and be able to start the season being able to run with the pack.
Photo credit to Paul via Flickr
