Luol Deng has decided to opt in to the final season of his contract with the Miami Heat, according to multiple reports. Deng’s decision came minutes after a report that he was planning on opting out of the $10 million deal to become a free agent.
Luol Deng will return to the Heat
In a surprise decision, Luol Deng will return to the Heat next season.
It looks like Dwyane Wade's not the only Miami Heat player planning on entering free agency a year earlier than expected. Luol Deng, who signed a two-year, $20 million deal with the Heat last July, is expected to decline his player option and become an unrestricted free agent, according to ESPN's Marc Stein.
Deng, 30, is coming off a season in which he averaged 14 points and 5.2 rebounds while shooting 47 percent from the field and 36 percent from behind the three-point line. He did miss 10 games due to various injuries, however, and could be looking at this offseason as his final chance to cash in on a big contract.
The Heat are planning on re-signing free agent point Goran Dragic, according to Stein, and also have to deal with Wade.
Even if he were to opt in this would likely be Deng's final year with the Heat given Pat Riley's desire to sign one or two stars next summer. Hassan Whiteside will also become an unrestricted free agent in July 2016. Cap room is something the Heat are saving and so it appears that Deng's time in Miami will be coming to an end after just one season.
The Heat also already have a replacement for Deng after snagging former Duke Blue Devil Justise Winslow, a 6'6 222-pound swingman, with the 10th pick in last week's NBA Draft.
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