NEWSLETTER
DeMar DeRozan’s future in Chicago remains extremely uncertain. While a potential Zach LaVine trade looms large over the organization, LaVine is at least under contract for the foreseeable future. DeRozan, on the other hand, is a free agent at the end of the year.
During the preseason, Arturas Karnisovas confirmed that negotiations with DeRozan’s camp about an extension were ongoing. Karnisovas also reiterated that he’d like the veteran forward to remain part of the organization moving forward. But we’ve heard precious little about any progress since then. And if anything, an agreement seems to be headed in the wrong direction.
For example, over the weekend, Chris Haynes reported (h/t to Marc Stein) that DeMar DeRozan and the Chicago Bulls hadn’t yet made up any ground on a new deal.
“DeMar DeRozan and the Bulls, I was told they are far apart on a potential contract extension … I was told, if DeRozan and the Bulls they can not reach a contract extensions, then it’s pretty likely that the Bulls may look to move DeMar DeRozan at the trade deadline,” Haynes said during a video discussion for Bleacher Report.
To be sure, this echoes the report we received from Shams Charania back in October. But the fact there has been zero progress made over a nearly two-month span speaks to why Haynes is indicating that trade talks are likely on the horizon.
We should also note that this update comes not too long after some pretty significant information from The Athletic’s Sam Amick, who named both the Miami Heat and New York Knicks as DeRozan’s preferred landing spots. I don’t know about you, but I sure think the likelihood of a trade rises exponentially when a list of preferred destinations surfaces.
Again, the idea of the Bulls investigating DeRozan’s trade market in the coming months shouldn’t come as a surprise. Trading a player to avoid losing them for nothing in free agency is standard practice in today’s NBA, especially when that play has as much value as someone like DeRozan. With that made clear, I’d be lying if I said I trust this front office to follow the league’s standard practices.
Bulls Must Consider a DeMar DeRozan Trade
Arturas Karnisovas has been immensely stubborn when it comes to breaking up this core. Despite lackluster results, he has already inked Nikola Vucevic to a three-year extension, and the front office has repeatedly voiced their desire to have DeRozan around long-term. It’s impossible not to be worried about the organization trading Zach LaVine only to retool around these two veterans – rather than also cash in on the value of tradeable veterans like DeRozan and Alex Caruso to build a brighter future.
But, hey, at least Haynes’ report tells us the Bulls are considering doing the right thing. I’ve been extremely appreciative of what DeRozan has done since he arrived in Chicago. I know the wins haven’t been there, but he’s played some of the best basketball of his career. Unfortunately, creating a sustainable winner around someone entering their mid-30s isn’t likely to work out. If winning in a meaningful way is the priority for both DeRozan and the Chicago Bulls, moving on from one another this season will likely be the only option.
