Deng signs one-year deal with Timberwolves

After meeting with Minnesota Timberwolves president of basketball operations and coach Tom Thibodeau on Monday, free agent forward Luol Deng agreed to a one-year deal with the franchise, league sources told ESPN.

Thibodeau has made no promises to Deng on playing time and role, but has offered the chance to earn minutes on a roster that includes three of his ex-Chicago Bulls teammates — Jimmy Butler, Derrick Rose and Taj Gibson.

Deng agreed to a $7.5 million buyout contract buyout with the Los Angeles Lakers in order to find a chance to play meaningful minutes elsewhere.

Deng’s buyout left him with $29 million for the two years left on his contract, for which the Lakers used the waive and stretch provision to soften the short-term salary cap hit.

Deng signed a four-year, $72 million free agent deal with the Lakers in 2016. The Lakers benched Deng, 33, for all but one game of the past season.