Cavs acquire Luol Deng from Bulls for Andrew Bynum

MANILA, Philippines – Long-time Chicago Bulls forward Luol Deng is now a Cavalier.

A report on the official website of the Cleveland Cavaliers confirmed that Deng is now with the team in exchange for center Andrew Bynum, three future draft picks and the right to swap 2015 first round picks with the Cavs.

Cavs’ owner Dan Gilbert welcomed Deng in a tweet.

Welcome @LuolDeng9 to the Cleveland Cavaliers!

— Dan Gilbert (@cavsdan) January 7, 2014

In 23 games in the 2013-2014 season, Deng has been averaging 19 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game for the Bulls who lost their star and team leader Derrick Rose to another knee injury 10 games into the season. He will be a free agent after the current season.

The deal announced Tuesday, January 7, comes as a surprise following reports that Cleveland was in talks with the Los Angeles Lakers to swap Bynum with former teammate former All Star forward Pau Gasol. But the talks did not materialize as the Lakers insisted that Cleveland include Dion Waiters in the package. Cleveland was not willing to part with the young shooting guard.

The Cavaliers have been actively shopping Bynum after suspending the center for “conduct detrimental to the team.”

Bynum, after being traded from the Lakers to the Philadelphia 76ers in the Dwight Howard deal, didn’t play a single game in the 2012-2013 season. The Cavaliers took a gamble on the center signing him to a partially guaranteed deal where he could make up to $24.79 million if he performs well for the Cavs.

The Bulls, like the Lakers, may waive Bynum to clear cap space for the next season in order to lure a star free agent to play alongside Derrick Rose in the 2014-2015 season.

On the Bulls’ official website reporting about the trade, their General Manager Gar Forman said, “The moves made today will put us in a better position to make the entire roster stronger for the future and to compete for a championship.”– Rappler.com