Luol Deng happy to join Cleveland Cavaliers

For the first time in his nine-year NBA career, forward Luol Deng will suit up for a team other than the Chicago Bulls.

When Deng and the Bulls could not agree to a contract extension, the dealt him to the Cleveland Cavaliers for center Andrew Bynum (who has since been waived) and draft picks.

Deng admitted he enjoyed his time with the Bulls, but said he was excited to join the Cavaliers.

“I’ve been very lucky,” Deng told the Associated Press. “Not a lot of guys can say they’ve been with one organization for too long. I was definitely surprised. You hear stuff, you hear rumors, but some of it’s true and some of it’s not. When it happened, I couldn’t believe it. It took a while to hit me. But it’s not like I’m stopping from playing basketball. I’ve been traded from one great organization to another one.”

On the season, Deng is averaging 19.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.0 steals per game.

Deng will make his Cavaliers’ debut Friday when the Cavaliers head to Utah to take on the Jazz.