One NBA writer is proposing that the New York Knicks trade for Chicago Bulls star DeMar DeRozan in a blockbuster deal. Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report proposed the following trade idea between the Bulls and Knicks:
New York Knicks receive: DeMar DeRozan
Chicago Bulls receive: RJ Barrett, Quentin Grimes and 2024 first-round pick (top-10 protected)
“DeRozan wouldn’t help the Knicks’ spacing issues, but he, Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle are all accustomed to navigating through narrow lanes,” Buckley wrote in his latest NBA trade column. “Plus, it’s not like the Knicks are getting loads of long-distance shots out of Barrett anyway, so they might as well switch to someone who’s more capable of making things happen in the mid-range, both as a scorer and shot-creator.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks Updates
In 74 games last season for the Bulls, DeRozan averaged 24.5 points, 4.6 rebounds and 5.1 assists while shooting 50.4% from the field and 87.2% from the free-throw line. The Compton native was 13th in the NBA in total points and 17th in points per game, once again proving that he doesn’t need to shoot or make 3-pointers to score.
Unfortunately for the Bulls, DeRozan’s stellar individual season didn’t result in many wins. Chicago won only 40 games and missed the 2023 NBA playoffs. The Bulls beat the Toronto Raptors in the 9-10 play-in game but lost to the Miami Heat in the 8-9 play-in game.
DeRozan will make $28.6 million next season. He becomes an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2024 and the Bulls are unlikely to sign DeRozan to an extension this year, sources told NBA Analysis Network. The future Hall of Famer is averaging 26.2 points in 150 games with Chicago and has made two All-Star teams.
The Bulls are 80-70 with DeRozan in the lineup. They acquired the USC product in the summer of 2021 in a sign-and-trade deal with the San Antonio Spurs. DeRozan has career NBA averages of 21.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.0 assists with the Raptors, Spurs and Bulls.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks Updates
The Knicks could start Jalen Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo, DeRozan, Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson if New York’s front office figured out a way to acquire DeRozan from Chicago.
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