The Chicago Bulls want to re-sign six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan in free agency.
That feeling is mutual. But they have yet to complete a new deal after word of early talks went cold. DeRozan is at the end of a three-year, $81.9 million contract. He is eligible to sign an extension worth up to $178 million over four seasons.
The Bulls avoided putting themselves in a similar situation last offseason with center Nikola Vucevic, whom they signed to a three-year, $60 million pact before free agency began. A similar tactic could help them avoid a more robust anticipated market for DeRozan.
“There’s a belief around the league that DeRozan will ultimately re-sign with the Bulls, given the team’s continued desire to compete, his role, and Chicago’s willingness to pay him,” HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto wrote on May 28. N
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Playoff Mainstay ‘Worth Monitoring’ as Suitor for Bulls’ DeMar DeRozan
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By Josh Buckhalter
Updated May 29, 2024 at 1:38am
DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls
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DeMar DeRozan #11 of the Chicago Bulls.
The Chicago Bulls want to re-sign six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan in free agency.
That feeling is mutual. But they have yet to complete a new deal after word of early talks went cold. DeRozan is at the end of a three-year, $81.9 million contract. He is eligible to sign an extension worth up to $178 million over four seasons.
The Bulls avoided putting themselves in a similar situation last offseason with center Nikola Vucevic, whom they signed to a three-year, $60 million pact before free agency began.
A similar tactic could help them avoid a more robust anticipated market for DeRozan.
“There’s a belief around the league that DeRozan will ultimately re-sign with the Bulls, given the team’s continued desire to compete, his role, and Chicago’s willingness to pay him,” HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto wrote on May 28.
“However, one team worth monitoring as a potential suitor for DeRozan via sign-and-trade is the Los Angeles Clippers, should the franchise fail to re-sign Paul George in free agency.”
The Clippers suffered a first-round playoff exit after earning the No. 4 seed.
They have made the postseason in 11 of the past 13 seasons and could provide DeRozan the chance to compete he said he wanted following the Bulls’ Play-In Tournament loss to the Miami Heat.
George is HoopsHype’s top unrestricted free agent this offseason. DeRozan is No. 7 overall. He will only hit the market if he declines his $48.8 million player option for the 2024-25 season. George is entering the final year of a four-year, $176.2 million contract. The Clippers will not pay him more than teammate Kawhi Leonard, per the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Keith Pompey on May 26. Rumors have linked the nine-time All-Star to the Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks, among others, if he hits free agency.
That could present a path to a homecoming for the Compton native, DeRozan. Proposed Bulls Sign-&-Trade Sends DeMar DeRozan to Clippers
The Bulls acquired DeRozan via sign-and-trade from the San Antonio Spurs. He has likely earned a raise from the $28.6 million he earned this past season. LA has a few players on mid-tier contracts that could appeal to the Bulls.
This hypothetical package would give the Bulls some additional three-point shooting and perimeter and paint defense as well as rebounding.
