DeMar DeRozan began his summer of unrestricted free agency by stating that he’d love to return to Chicago and finish his career there. From a personal performance standpoint, he’s enjoyed one of the best three-year stretches in his career. Although they’ve only won one playoff game during that time, he’s had two All-Star nominations and twice been a finalist for the league’s Clutch Player Of The Year honor. Outperforming his three-year, $85 million contract, DeRozan will reap the rewards of a much better payday this time around. Heading home to play for the Los Angeles Lakers has always been his dream, and it’s too early to rule out the most lucrative offers he will receive from the bottom-dwelling youth-filled teams with cap space to fill. Initially considered a near-lock that DeRozan returns to Chicago for at least one more stint, what has changed in the last week that has the NBA world rethinking where he’ll suit up next season?
Turning 35 years old before next season begins, DeRozan has mentioned at times throughout his career that one of his goals is to compete for an NBA Championship, a goal he has yet to fulfill. Trading away Alex Caruso in favor of a younger, more unproven talent in Josh Giddey confirms that Chicago has admittedly taken a step back for the future’s sake. DeRozan may not be around to see that vision through. Zach LaVine is inevitably being shipped away this summer as well, and eyeing that 2025 protected first-round draft selection that the Bulls can retain if they land in the top ten of next year’s draft means Chicago is willing to risk sliding in the rankings to build over the next few summers.
It’s unlikely that DeRozan is willing to stick around for another rebuilding phase at this stage in his career, and the growing idea is that he’ll seek out a more win-now roster or return home to California and play for the Los Angeles Lakers. Will his success over the past three years and being the veteran leader in the clubhouse convince him enough to see it through with the Bulls?
Chicago’s product on the floor next season may look very different from recent times. Losing two players who combined for nearly 40 shot attempts per game during their stint together and were responsible for a large majority of the scoring and ball-handling duties means a new face of the franchise for the Bulls. This has the feel of something Bulls fans have wanted to see happen over the last two years, but will quickly be reminded that it can be much worse than losing in back-to-back Play-In Tournaments to end the season.
Sending away one or both of these All-Stars officially pushes all of the Bulls’ chips into the hands of Arturas Karnisovas and the same front office that has led them to this situation to complete a full rebuild with minimal assets.
Would you vote to see DeMar DeRozan return to Chicago, or is it time to clean house and start rebuilding this roster with the same leadership in the front office?
