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Report: Chicago Bulls Want to Dump Zach LaVine and Lonzo Ball Contracts
By Morris Bankston,
18 days ago
Oct 2, 2023; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine (8) and guard Lonzo Ball (2) talk during Chicago Bulls Media Day at Advocate Center.
Photo&colon David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
On Monday, Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report shared a Chicago Bulls free agency update that reported "Chicago [Bulls] has not opened up dialogue with DeMar DeRozan because they want to get rid of the contracts of Zach LaVine and Lonzo Ball."
Apr 2, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan (11) brings the ball up court against the Memphis Grizzlies during the second half at United Center.
Photo&colon Kamil Krzaczynski&solUSA TODAY Sports
Haynes' report ended with a declarative take on DeRozan's future with the Bulls, "the DeMar DeRozan era in Chicago is officially over." It's worth noting the logic sandwiched between Haynes' stating the Bulls have not spoken with DeRozan presumably since the start of the 2024 free agency period and declaring the Bulls' DeRozan era over.
"They [Chicago Bulls] are willing to talk to DeMar if they get rid of those contracts", Haynes remarked. The DeRozan era likely has concluded inside the United Center, but it begs the question that if the Bulls' front office successfully dumped LaVine and Ball's contracts, AND DeRozan is still on the market as an unrestricted free agent, is there a path to a Bulls contract extension waiting for DeRozan?
Apr 22, 2022; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas (right) talks with general manager Marc Eversley (left) before game three of the first round for the 2022 NBA playoffs against the Milwaukee Bucks at United Center.
Mar 20, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Tobias Harris (12) drives against Chicago Bulls guard Patrick Beverley (21) during the first quarter at Wells Fargo Center.
Photo&colon Bill Streicher&solUSA TODAY Sports
Meanwhile, Klay Thompson agreed to a three-year $50 million contract with the Dallas Mavericks after concluding a five-year maximum contract with the Golden State Warriors and an average annual salary of $37.9 million.
It appears the of price tag that star-level second or third option player enjoyed under the previous NBA player collective bargaining agreement is no more as franchises are showing more cost consciousness in their free-agent signings. It's possible that the money DeMar DeRozan wants in his next contract may not exist in the NBA anymore. Will the current free agent market change DeRozan's salary appetite in his next NBA contract?
Jan 12, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan (11) dribbles against Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) during the first half at United Center.
Photo&colon Kamil Krzaczynski&solUSA TODAY Sports
All of this is to say that DeMar DeRozan may suit up for a new NBA franchise when the 2024-25 NBA season tips off. However, the realm of possibilities for a DeRozan/Bulls reboot comes back into play if Arturas Karnisovas finds a way to clear Zach LaVine and Lonzo Ball's contracts from the Bulls' cap sheet.
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