Sometimes, the best thing to do is just to go home. When sunny Los Angeles is home, that might be even easier. Meanwhile, Los Angeles has always been a popular destination for NBA players.
Whether they’re from the area or not. Why wouldn’t it be? Los Angeles is perhaps the best market in the league. It’s also a beautiful city full of famous people. If you were an NBA player, wouldn’t you want to play there?
Now, imagine you were from LA – wouldn’t you want to play in your hometown? Take DeMar DeRozan of the Chicago Bulls. He’s an LA native.
Perhaps that’s why we’ve been linking him to the Los Angeles Lakers for so long. Here’s a deal that finally sends him there.
NBA Trade Proposal: Los Angeles Lakers Land Chicago Bulls’ DeMar DeRozan
Chicago Bulls Receive: F Rui Hachimua, G Gabe Vincent, G/F Cam Reddish
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: G/F DeMar DeRozan
On the other hand, there’s value in leaving home as well. It can give you a new perspective on life. Home is always there – there’s an entire world waiting for you outside of it. Go ahead and explore.
NBA players can often feel the same way. Why shouldn’t they? They’re human beings like the rest of us. NBA players don’t always want to play in front of their hometowns.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers Updates
There’s an added pressure in doing so, and you’re losing the opportunity to see another place. Moreover, it has to make sense. A player may not want to play on their hometown squad unless that squad has a natural place for them.
Otherwise, they’re forcing the issue. Is Los Angeles a natural landing place for DeRozan?
Why The Los Angeles Lakers Do The Deal
It’s not an easy question to answer. On a surface level, this may not be a great fit. The Lakers already tried to pair LeBron James with a playmaker who couldn’t space the floor well. That player happened to be an LA native himself.
If Russell Westbrook couldn’t play with James, can DeRozan? We’re not sure. Yet, the question isn’t quite that simple, either. DeRozan does space the floor better than Westbrook.
More importantly, he’s got a better feel. DeRozan is a smart, heady player who typically makes good decisions. That happens to be even truer than LeBron James.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers Updates
So, this pair should be able to make it work. In the end, acquiring DeRozan likely helps the Lakers raise their ceiling – even if it lowers their floor. Given the Lakers’ mediocre performance so far this year, that’s a gamble worth making.
Should the Bulls help the Lakers raise their ceiling?
Why The Chicago Bulls Do The Deal
Recently, reports have suggested that Chicago is open to moving Zach LaVine. If that’s true, they’re almost certain to move DeRozan. He’s older, and he’s due for a contract extension soon enough.
This would be a fair return. No, the Bulls aren’t getting a first-round pick back here. If they were willing to take on bad money elsewhere, they might be able to.
Here, we’ve got them netting some young players instead. In particular, Hachimura is an interesting addition to a rebuilding team. Yet, Reddish has some remaining intrigue as well.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers Updates
He’s had a disappointing NBA career so far, but he’s still young enough to turn it around If he can’t, the Bulls may end up sending him home.
