Can an NBA team have too much playmaking? Probably not. Having multiple players on the floor who can make plays makes a team more difficult to guard. With that said, they need some of those playmakers to double as knockdown shooters.
With that in mind, the Chicago Bulls thought they could manage DeMar DeRozan’s subpar shooting last season. Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic both space the floor – this should have worked. It didn’t. Now, fans are left wondering if the Bulls are going to rebuild their roster.
By contrast, the New York Knicks won’t be rebuilding. They actually exceeded expectations last year. With that said, they may have a more dynamic offense come playoff time if they added another playmaker. Why not DeRozan?
The Trade Proposal
Chicago Bulls Receive: G/F Evan Fournier, C Isaiah Hartenstein, 2026 First-Round Pick (NYK)
New York Knicks Receive: G/F DeMar DeRozan
Fans may think that the Bulls should rebuild. The players on the team may feel differently. Recently, DeRozan stated that fans who call for the Bulls to blow up their roster “don’t really understand basketball.”
DeRozan is entitled to his opinion. Still, it seems naive to state that there’s no reason to reconfigure this roster. The Bulls just handed the Orlando Magic the 11th pick in the draft. They missed the playoffs, and they had nothing to show for it. This was a disappointing season for Chicago by any measure.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls & New York Knicks Updates
Does that mean they have to blow it up? No. The Bulls could benefit from another offseason of training together. At the same time, there has to be a breaking point. Eventually, the Bulls would have to concede defeat with this core. Should they concede defeat now?
Why The Chicago Bulls Do The Deal
The Bulls do this deal because they just clued up a disappointing season. With that said, this trade could be disappointing in its own right for their fans. In terms of name value, they may expect DeRozan to command a larger return than this.
They ought to reconsider. DeRozan is aging – any season could be the first in his decline. He’s a non-spacer, and he isn’t much of a defensive presence either. As talented as he is, DeRozan is not an easy player to build around. Teams aren’t going to surrender a surplus of draft capital to bring him on board.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls & New York Knicks Updates
With that in mind, this is a good return. Hartenstein is young enough to be part of a rebuilding core – if Chicago likes him, they could move Vucevic as well. Otherwise, they’re netting an expiring contract and an unprotected first for DeRozan. Should the Knicks give that much up?
Why The New York Knicks Do The Deal
The Knicks do this deal to add a playmaker. They shocked the world by having one of the best offenses in the NBA last season. Here, they’re wagering that adding DeRozan would make it even more lethal.
That isn’t a foregone conclusion. Let’s be honest: DeRozan didn’t work out in Chicago. His inability to space the floor can make him a difficult player to work with. When DeRozan doesn’t have the ball, he doesn’t have much to offer. Luckily for New York, Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle are both fantastic catch-and-shoot options.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls & New York Knicks Updates
We’re not sure how the Knicks would deploy DeRozan. They could entertain using him as a sixth man. If not, they should stagger his minutes with their other two stars. DeRozan can carry the offense for stretches when Brunson and Randle need a break. With so much playmaking on the roster, the Knicks would have options.
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