Britain’s Deng opts to stay in Miami next season

 

Britain’s Luol Deng will stay with the Miami Heat next season, the club announcing Monday that the 30-year-old forward will pick up his contract option for the 2015-16 campaign.

No details of the contract were released but the South Sudan-born playmaker is expected to make more than $10 million next season before becoming a free agent next year.

Moving into the spot vacated by superstar LeBron James when he departed for Cleveland a year ago, Deng started 72 games for the Heat, averaging 14.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists over 33.6 minutes a game. He connected on 46.9 percent of his shots, 35.5 percent from 3-point range, and 76.1 percent of his free throws.

Deng turned in one of the best games of his career last Christmas, netting 25 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in a 101-91 victory over James and the Cavaliers.

The 11-year NBA veteran has now appeared in 749 career games and averaged 15.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.0 steals.

The Heat went 37-45 last season, 10th in Eastern Conference and one game out of the final available playoff spot.