The Chicago Bulls and DeMar DeRozan are looking to extend their partnership, but DeRozan rejected a multi-year contract offer from the Bulls valued at potentially $40 million, as reported by NBC Sports Chicago’s K.C. Johnson in April.
This rejection might prompt the Bulls to explore alternative options this offseason.
Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz suggests that Chicago needs to make a decisive choice and could explore facilitating DeRozan’s move to a new team through a sign-and-trade.
DeRozan may entertain offers from championship contenders with available salary cap space like the Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic, although he may need to be patient and recognize that he might not be their top priority. Another possibility could involve returning to his hometown in Los Angeles through a sign-and-trade with the Lakers, contingent on D’Angelo Russell declining his $18.7 million player option to manage the Lakers’ salary cap situation.
Swartz proposes that the Lakers could offer a package involving players such as Austin Reaves, Gabe Vincent, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Rui Hachimura. Considering the makeup of the Bulls’ roster, a combination including Hachimura, Reaves, and Vanderbilt seems most suitable.
In this scenario:
Bulls would receive:
– Austin Reaves
– Jarred Vanderbilt
– Rui Hachimura
Lakers would acquire:
– DeMar DeRozan
DeRozan’s previous contract was a three-year deal worth $81.9 million.
There’s speculation, as noted by Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus, that Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf might be hesitant to make a trade benefiting LeBron James, possibly fearing James could overshadow Michael Jordan.
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