The DeMar DeRozan experiment in Chicago began with a lot of fanfare. In the 2021 NBA offseason, the Chicago Bulls made a few quick-fire moves to elevate the team. Coming in with a Zach Lavine and All-Star level Nikola Vucevic pair, they added DeMar, Lonzo Ball, and Alex Caruso on multi-year deals.
Immediately, the team was seen as a prime playoff contender, for the first time in nearly a decade. For the first half of the season, that sentiment ran true as the Bulls were the number 1 seed when Christmas rolled around. But, all good things must come to an end. And for the Chicago faithful, that end came far too soon.
Lonzo went down with an injury, which he is yet to return from, and the team fell by the wayside. Zach had a falling out with head coach Billy Donovan and has been in trade rumors for an eternity while the team continues to struggle at about .500.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls Updates
During the entire run, the team had a bright spot. DeRozan’s play, combined with Caruso’s defensive excellence, was among the few. From the team’s homegrown talent, Coby White‘s emergence this season pushed the team toward a rebuild.
After years of middling, the team essentially decided to start over. The first step was trading Alex to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Josh Giddey. Consequently, reports came out about how the move for Giddey soured DD on returning to Chicago.
What DeRozan Still Provides
As a scorer, DeRozan is one of one. Throughout the 2010s, he was one of 4 players to tally 1,000 points each season. Into the next decade, his scoring prowess has continued. After clearing 24 ppg over each of the last two seasons, DeMar remains a virtual guarantee at a bucket.
Further, he remains lethal in isolation, finishing in the top 10 of efficiency and production among all volume isolation scorers. But, the questions remain largely the same when it comes to DD.
The 6-time All-Star has always been a suspect defender, and the last few seasons haven’t changed that notion. Similarly, the questions about his 3-pointer shooting. Throughout his career, the midrange assassin has had a notorious aversion to shooting from distance. Barring an anomalous 2017-18 season in Toronto, the 34-year-old averages 1.4 3PA for his career.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls Updates
In today’s league, with shooting at a paramount, teams might be hesitant to offer DeMar a large deal. However, DeRozan operated in a pseudo-PG role during his time with the San Antonio Spurs. For a team looking for off-the-bench creation, he could serve as a different look to throw at opponents.
Where Could DeRozan Sign?
So far, many teams have shown interest in the veteran wing. Initially, it was reported that LeBron James would take a pay cut from his max deal if the Los Angeles Lakers could acquire him with the MLE. However, reports indicate that DeRozan is looking for a longer and larger deal.
As a result, a few other teams have shown interest. The Miami Heat, in hunt of a consistent scoring option alongside their core trio of Bam Adebayo, Jimmy Butler, and Tyler Herro, seem to be in the mix with a sign-and-trade available. Another intriguing team on the market is the Spurs.
Looking for a reunion with the veteran, Gregg Popovich could build the perfect veteran complementary pieces in the form of DeRozan and the recently acquired Chris Paul. Extending Victor Wembanyama‘s growth and mentoring young Stephon Castle could catapult San Antonio into the future. They’re more likely to facilitate a sign-and-trade deal, though, which leads us to the next point.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls Updates
However, the latest team being linked to DeRozan is the Sacramento Kings. He’s set to travel to Northern California with the team having serious interest in a sign-and-trade to acquire him. It remains to be seen if the conversation will result in a deal.
Where do you think DeMar DeRozan ends up once the dust settles? Let us know in the comments below.
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