Luol Deng thanks Heat for 'an amazing two years'

Luol Deng left the Miami Heat for better financial terms. He also left on the best of terms.

A day after agreeing to a four-year, $72 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, Deng made a point of making a point to the Heat and the team's fans.

Posting on Instagram along with a picture of himself in his former No. 9 Heat uniform, Deng wrote:

"Thank you to the @miamiheat for giving me the opportunity to be a part of such a winning culture and first class organization.

"Thank you to the #HeatNation fanbase and the city of Miami for welcoming me in and showing me love. Such a beautiful city and rich culture.

"It's been an amazing two years, and the experience will stay with me as a special part of my journey."

Deng joined the Heat when needed most, days after the Heat lost LeBron James back to the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2014 offseason.

At the time of Deng's signing, Heat President Riley called it, "one of the most important free-agent signings that we have ever had in the history of the franchise."

Shortly after word of Deng's departure came, Heat guard Dwyane Wade offered congratulations on Twitter, posting, "Proud to call you a friend!"

Deng, 31, earned $10 million last season and had been seeking the type of long-term contract that was unlikely to come from the Heat with their limited salary-cap resources. He now goes from a team that stood within one game of the Eastern Conference finals to one that is rebuilding in the wake of Kobe Bryant's retirement tour.