DeMar DeRozan
The Chicago Bulls were big spenders this offseason. They revamped the roster hoping to get into the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference. However, for how good of a move it was to land Lonzo Ball and sign Alex Caruso, DeMar DeRozan is on the opposite side of that spectrum.
DeRozan and the Bulls agreed to a three-year, $85 million deal. For a player that rumors swirled that he could be had for a mid-level exception to join a winning team, that is a major overpay. He also doesn’t have a seamless fit on the team.
DeRozan made major strides as a playmaker in recent years with the San Antonio Spurs. But, he will not have the ball in his hands nearly as much as Ball, Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic will have the ball as well. That will push DeRozan off the ball, where he is a lot less valuable as he doesn’t space the floor.
At 32-years old, DeRozan is already leaving his prime years. For someone who already wasn’t a great defender, that is unlikely to change with Father Time creeping up on him.
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When you account for what it cost to get him, it makes this deal even worse. Not only did Chicago give him $85 million, but it also cost them Thaddeus Young, Al-Farouq Aminu, a first-round pick and two second-round picks. That is a steep price to pay for a player that doesn’t have a clear fit on the roster and doesn’t turn them into instant contenders.
