ILLAWARRA has locked in the signature of former Cleveland Cavalier Deng Adel, fending off interest from several rival clubs to secure the 23-year-old.
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Adel played 19 games for the Cavaliers in the 2018-19 NBA Season and most recently played for the Long Island Nets - the Brooklyn Nets' G-League affiliate - averaging 11.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.7 assists before the season was cancelled due to COVID-19.
South Sudan-born, Melboune-raised, Adel played three years with the University of Louisville, averaging 11.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 89 games. Coach Brian Goorjian confident time with Illawarra can propel the star back to the NBA.
"Deng is an NBA level talent and at just 23-years-old, he holds aspirations to make the NBA again," Goorjian said."
"The fact he has put his trust and faith in the Hawks program to help him on that journey is a great endorsement of the organisation."
Adel joins Emmett Naar, Deng Deng, Dan Grida and Sam Froling on the Hawks roster, with Cam Bairstow expected to be added in the coming week before the search turns to imports.
"I'm super excited. I wanted to join the Hawks, it's a great situation there having Coach Goorjian and the ownership group they have," Adel said.
"It's an opportunity to build a new culture there and I'm excited for the challenge. [Having Goorjian as coach] was a big factor.
"I'm trying to develop my game, I want to grow every year and I think the resume he has speaks for itself."
