The Chicago Bulls are apparently headed into a full-scale rebuild. While their brass is calling it a retooling process publicly, the trade of Alex Caruso earlier in the offseason tells us another story.
Star wing Zach Lavine is firmly on the trade block and will be moved here soon. DeMar DeRozan is set to hit free agency and could follow him out of town.
Fresh off the selection of a high-upside Matas Buzelis with the 11th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, the Bulls are going young. Flipping Caruso for a younger Josh Giddey was a previous example of this.
We’re now hearing more on the future of DeMar DeRozan in the Windy City. In short, he doesn’t have one.
“With growing buzz that DeMar DeRozan will be elsewhere next season, either via a sign-or-trade or simply walking in unrestricted free agency, the buzzword is no longer competitiveness,’ K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago noted.
DeRozan, 34, doesn’t necessarily fit into the Bulls’ long-term plans. He also likely doesn’t want to take part in what promises to be a long-term rebuild in Chicago. It makes sense.
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How will the DeMar DeRozan situation play out with the Chicago Bulls?
There are two possibilities here. A team can simply sign DeRozan into their cap space this summer, leaving Chicago out cold. The likelier scenario is that the Bulls are able to find a partner in a sign-and-trade.
Based on DeRozan’s history of playing at a high level, he’s looking at $30-plus million on the open market. As of right now, only six teams would be able to sign him outright.
Out of that group, the Philadelphia 76ers and Oklahoma City Thunder can be seen as true contenders.
Philly makes sense in that it has been looking for a wing to team up with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. It’s actually a pretty darn good fit.
However, other teams without cap room will likely get involved. If Paul George does indeed leave the Los Angeles Clippers, they’ll have the room to sign DeRozan. They have also already been linked to the six-time All-Star.
- DeMar DeRozan stats (2023-24): 24.0 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 5.3 APG, 48% shooting
Despite his relatively advanced age, DeRozan continues to be one of the better players in the game. That’s not going to limit his market.
Teams such as the Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Dallas Mavericks, Sacramento Kings and Orlando Magic could very well approach the Chicago Bulls about a potential sign-and-trade.
Regardless, we’ve seen the last of DeRozan in a Bulls uniform.
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