Six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan is in the final year of his contract with the Chicago Bulls and one NBA insider thinks the small forward could become a trade candidate as the 2023-24 season progresses if the Bulls don’t sign him to an extension.
Brian Windhorst of ESPN believes several teams could try to trade for DeRozan if the USC product and the Bulls don’t agree to an extension and Chicago struggles like it did last season.
“One guy to keep an eye on for everybody — the whole league — this year is DeMar DeRozan,” Windhorst said on First Take. “If he doesn’t extend with the Bulls, I think he becomes a trade target as the season goes along.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls Updates
In 74 games for the Bulls last season, DeRozan averaged 24.5 points, 4.6 rebounds and 5.1 assists while shooting 50.4% from the floor and 87.2% from the free-throw line. The former Toronto Raptors star 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 at a high level.
Unfortunately for the Bulls, DeRozan’s impressive individual season didn’t result in much team success. Chicago won just 40 games and missed the 2023 playoffs. The Bulls beat the 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 34-year-old in the summer of 2021 in a sign-and-trade deal with the San Antonio Spurs. DeRozan, who has been linked to the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers and Heat, 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 Updates
DeRozan will make $28.6 million this season. He is set to become an unrestricted free agent next offseason if an extension isn’t reached.
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