According to NBA insider Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, the Chicago Bulls are open to trading DeMar DeRozan.
DeRozan becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer, so the Bulls could lose the future Hall of Famer and not get anything in return.
DeRozan is averaging 22.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.7 blocks this season while shooting 46.5% from the field, 33.1% from beyond the arc and 84.6% from the free-throw line. He’s making $28.6 million.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls Updates
Sources told NBA Analysis Network in December that the Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers were interested in acquiring DeRozan, who is still one of the best scorers in the league.
For what it’s worth, DeRozan told The Chicago Tribune in December that he’s committed to the Bulls, who are in ninth place in the Eastern Conference standings with a record of 23-27. If the season ended today, Chicago would be in the play-in tournament for the second year in a row.
“Chicago is Chicago to me,” DeRozan said. “I love it here. Obviously it’s a place I want to be in my career. None of that has changed. I don’t have no other type of doubts or feelings or suggestions to be elsewhere. That don’t cross my mind.”
Bulls guard Zach LaVine will miss the rest of the season with a foot injury, so it’s possible Chicago will trade DeRozan and embark on a rebuild.
DeRozan, 34, has career averages of 21.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.3 blocks with the Toronto Raptors, San Antonio Spurs and Bulls. The six-time All-Star and USC product has never been to the NBA Finals.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls Updates
The NBA trade deadline is on February 8. The Bulls and DeRozan never got close in extension talks, so this week could be DeRozan’s final few days in Chicago.
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