Report: DeMar DeRozan Won’t Return To Bulls

According to NBA reporter Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, DeMar DeRozan will not return to the Chicago Bulls.

DeRozan is an unrestricted free agent.

The Bulls are in rebuild mode after trading Alex Caruso to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Josh Giddey and letting Andre Drummond leave for the Philadelphia 76ers.

The next step for the Bulls is to trade Zach LaVine, something they’ve been trying to do for over a year. LaVine’s trade value is pretty much non-existent.

DeRozan appeared in 79 games for the Bulls in 2023-24. The USC product averaged 24.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.6 blocks while shooting 48.0% from the floor, 33.3% from 3 and 85.3% from the free-throw line.

DeRozan signed a three-year, $85 million contract with the Bulls in August 2021 as part of a sign-and-trade deal with the San Antonio Spurs.

DeRozan has career averages of 21.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.3 blocks with the Toronto Raptors, Spurs and Bulls. He’s made three All-NBA teams and six All-Star teams.

According to NBA insider Brian Windhorst of ESPN, LeBron James would take a pay cut for the Los Angeles Lakers to sign DeRozan.

LeBron, 39, has declined his 2024-25 player option with the Lakers worth $51.4 million. He will re-sign with LA and is open to taking a discount if the franchise can get an impact player.

LeBron averaged 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 8.3 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.5 blocks for the Lakers in 2023-24 in 71 games while shooting 54.0% from the floor, 41.0% from 3 and 75.0% from the free-throw line.

The Lakers lost to the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the 2024 playoffs in five games. Denver also beat Los Angeles in the 2023 Western Conference Finals.

The leading scorer in NBA history, LeBron joined the Lakers in 2018. He and Anthony Davis helped the franchise win the 2020 championship at the Walt Disney World bubble.

LeBron is a four-time MVP, a four-time Finals MVP and a four-time champion. He’s arguably the best player in NBA history.

DeRozan almost joined the Lakers in 2021 before LAL acquired Russell Westbrook from the Washington Wizards. LeBron, Davis and DeRozan are close friends.

The Lakers are also interested in adding Klay Thompson, who won’t return to the Golden State Warriors. LeBron called Thompson after free agency opened. Thompson is one of the best shooters in NBA history.

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