DeMar DeRozan told NBA reporter Mark Medina of Sportskeeda that he would like to finish his career with the Chicago Bulls.
“That’s a place I want to be and end my career,” DeRozan said. “I want to be able to accomplish everything I’ve set out to accomplish. That’s all I can worry about and control. I have the utmost confidence in myself. I’ll let my agent and the organization deal with that side of things, to be honest man. From their standpoint, they want me to be there long-term and vice versa. We’ll see what happens from there.”
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.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls 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 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.
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 averages of 21.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.0 assists with the Raptors, Spurs and Bulls.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls Updates
If the Bulls struggle again next season and signal to other teams that their stars (DeRozan, Zach LaVine, Nikola Vucevic) are available, DeRozan would prefer to get traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, sources said.
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