CHICAGO _ Luol Deng signed a one-day contract with the Bulls on Thursday to retire as part of the team for which he was a fixture for 10 seasons.
"We're very fortunate and humbled that Luol has chosen to retire as a Chicago Bull," Bulls President and Chief Operating Officer Michael Reinsdorf said in a statement. "He was a role model on and off the court during his nine-plus years in Chicago, and he gave everything he had to help us win. I want to thank Luol for not only what he accomplished on the court for the team but also for the leadership he demonstrated through his philanthropic efforts."
The Bulls will honor him at a future game to be determined.
The two-time All-Star from South Sudan, drafted seventh overall by the Bulls in 2004, was on six Bulls playoff teams that included Joakim Noah, Kirk Hinrich, Ben Gordon and Derrick Rose at various stages during his stint in Chicago.
The Bulls traded Deng to the Cavaliers in 2014, but he signed with the Heat the next season, made the playoffs with them in 2015 and played two seasons with the Lakers before finishing his career with the Timberwolves last season.
Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations John Paxson said Deng instantly made the Bulls a better team.
"Luol carried himself with first-class professionalism and leadership, helping lead his Bulls team to (six) playoff appearances during his time in Chicago," Paxson said in a statement. "We'll always remember his All-Star career and the fierce competitiveness he brought to both ends of the floor every night."
Deng, 34, scored in double figures for his first 12 seasons. He was named to the 2011-12 All-Defensive second team and the 2004-05 All-Rookie first team.
The Bulls waived Perrion Callandret to make room for Deng on the roster.
