DeMar DeRozan could be the next big name to hit free agency. According to the Chicago Sun-Timess, his time with the Bulls is well and truly over, with no way back. After three seasons in Illinois, he is now free to commit wherever he wants, and is of particular interest to the Lakers.
Still the leader of the Bulls last season, in the Top 20 of the best scorers in the entire NBA (17th with his 24 units per game), DeMar DeRozan believes he has seen enough. The Sun-Times reveals that the trade to recover Josh Giddey in place of Alex Caruso was the last argument for the former Raptor and Spur to make his decision. The strategy of rejuvenating the roster with Josh Giddey (21 years old), the drafting of Matas Buzelis (19 years old), the long-term contract extension made to Patrick Williams (22 years old) or the signing of Jalen Smith (24 years old) in place of Andre Drummond in Nikola Vucevic's rotation clearly indicate a reconstruction. In which DeMar DeRozan does not want to participate.
“DMDR” will have played the role of mentor, and decisive player, but without managing to make Chicago a real stronghold of the East since 2022, despite the arrivals of Nikola Vucevic or Zach LaVine. Once again, the Bulls' season ended in the play-in, eliminated by the Heat. Also on the way out, Zach LaVine seems to be at an impasse, while the Bulls do not want to part with draft picks to find a place to fall at their back.
D'Angelo Russell sacrificed to bring in DeMar DeRozan?
DeMar DeRozan, for his part, should interest more than one franchise looking for experience and scoring, especially at the end of the game. ESPN journalist Brian Windhorst estimated in The Hoop Collective Podcast that the Compton native was among the players for whom LeBron James could accept a discount on his salary to strengthen the Lakers.
Yahoo! Sports advances that to be done, the deal could involve the departure of several players, D'Angelo Russell and Gabe Vincent in particular, while the Nets remain on the lookout for their former point guard. D'Angelo Russell had also been offered by Los Angeles to Golden State in order to obtain Klay Thompson assures Bleacher Report.
