If DeMar DeRozan is granted unrestricted free agency this offseason, K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago, an NBA insider, predicts that he will attract suitors.
If the Chicago Bulls don’t sign DeRozan to an agreement before free agency opens, he will be eligible to sign as an unrestricted free agent this summer.
According to Johnson, “a league source insists that he will draw suitors if he gets to unrestricted free agency, despite speculation that DeRozan would be in a similar situation.” “The Bulls will have a tight thread to thread if they hope to re-sign DeRozan and Patrick Williams and avoid having to pay the luxury tax, especially if Zach LaVine and Lonzo Ball are on the team for the upcoming season.”
August 2021 saw DeRozan sign a three-year, $85 million contract with the Bulls as a part of a sign-and-trade agreement with the Spurs of San Antonio. Averaging 25.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.5 blocks, the future Hall of Famer is playing for Chicago.
According to insiders who spoke with Hoops Wire, the Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, and Philadelphia 76ers were considering trades for DeRozan this season. The Bulls weren’t shopping DeRozan, though.
DeRozan, who started his career with the Toronto Raptors, is shooting 47.5% from the field, 33.7% from outside the arc, and 86.1% from the free-throw line this season while averaging 23.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.6 blocks. In the last year of his contract, he is earning $28.6 million.
Bulls record: 34–35. According to the Eastern Conference standings, they are ranked ninth. DeRozan and company would be in the NBA play-in tournament for the second consecutive season if the season ended tonight.
With the Raptors, Spurs, and Bulls, DeRozan, 34, has averaged 21.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.3 blocks over his career. Three All-NBA teams and six All-Star teams have been formed by the USC product.