The Chicago Bulls have been a surprise this season, opening the season with a 7-14 record and sitting third from bottom in the East. Fans have lost patience and are demanding a rebuild, even at the expense of stars like LaVine and DeRozan.
DeRozan is the star of the Bulls and has put on countless performances for the team over the past three years, but he seems to be tired of his time in Chicago, and he has revealed his preferred trade destination to the team. This 14-year veteran can still shine in **?What can the Bulls do in exchange for him?
DeRozan was once an NBA star and made a name for himself with the Toronto Raptors, forming a two-gun duo with Kyle Lowry as the "King of the North." But the Raptors traded him to the San Antonio Spurs in 2018 in order to get Leonard. DeRozan's two seasons with the Spurs didn't go well and didn't take the Spurs far. In 2019, he was traded to the Chicago Bulls to partner LaVine in hopes of bringing the Bulls back to glory.
DeRozan averaged 23. per game in his three seasons with the Bulls5 points, 54 assists and 46 rebounds and a whopping 49 percent shooting6%, is the team's top scorer and leader. DeRozan's contract expires at the end of the season, and he could become a free agent next summer and leave Chicago. The Bulls don't want him to walk for nothing, so they're actively looking for an opportunity to trade him.
DeRozan's trade value isn't low, he's an experienced scorer and a great addition to some competitive teams. This season, DeRozan is averaging 215 points, 49 assists and 33 rebounds and shot 456% and 37 percent from three-point range5%。He is a trusted veteran scorer who can elevate any competing team's competitive chances.
DeRozan has had a lot of encounters with LeBron James, and they have a deep friendship, and DeRozan has also expressed his interest in joining the Los Angeles Lakers. As the Bulls begin exploring a trade for DeRozan, the Lakers are reportedly once again interested in trading the veteran forward.
According to US media reports, DeRozan has ruled out the possibility of joining the Lakers, and he is more interested in two teams: the Miami Heat and the New York Knicks. Both of these teams are powerhouses in the East, and they both have their own attractions that make DeRozan tick. So, which team will DeRozan choose?What can the Bulls take away from them?
The Miami Heat are a strong team, having put up an amazing playoff run last season, making it all the way to the Finals, and although they lost to the Nuggets, they earned the respect of the league. At the heart of the Heat is Jimmy Butler, an all-around player who can play on both ends of the floor, and whose leadership and fighting spirit are the soul of the Heat. The Heat also have Bam Adebayo, who is an excellent interior player who can defend, rebound, pass and score, and he is the second knife for the Heat.
The Heat didn't make much of a change in the offseason, keeping their main lineup and making a few tweaks on the edge. They were going to bring in Damian Lillard, the Portland Trail Blazers superstar, but they didn't work out.
Repeated trade scandals have left their young player Tyler Herro unhappy, and there have been some rifts in Herro's relationship with the Heat, and he feels uncertain about his future. If the Heat want to trade DeRozan, they will most likely need to send Herro to Chicago. Given that DeRozan's contract is expiring, Chicago may only be able to get Herro and some draft picks.
The addition of DeRozan will make the Heat's offensive firepower even stronger, he can take on the team's scoring responsibility when Butler is not on the court or is not in good shape, and his mid-range shooting and breakthrough ability can cause a lot of problems for opponents. DeRozan can also form a formidable duo with Butler, both of whom are players with excellent passing and playmaking skills, and they can work together to create more chances.
DeRozan's cooperation with the Heat will be a win-win choice, he can pursue his championship dream under the leadership of Butler, and he can also bring more competitiveness and hope to the Heat, so that they can once again hit the Finals stage and compete with other strong teams.
DeRozan's other go-to trade destination is New York, where he will join forces with the likes of Jalen Brunson in a bid to make the Knicks a title contender. The Knicks are looking to build on last season's success, winning their first playoff series in nearly a decade.
Bringing in DeRozan means adding a consistent scorer and offense to Brunson's top point guard. DeRozan can also serve as a mentor to help RJ Barrett continue to polish and improve his game.
Again, because of DeRozan's contract issues, the Knicks don't have to give up any chips that are too important. The Bulls will certainly target Quickley, who has the potential to be the Sixth Man of the Year, or Barrett if they're a little bolder, but it would be unwise for the Knicks to consider either of those options.
DeRozan will be a free agent next offseason, so it would be unwise to trade away valuable young players. A more realistic trade could be Fournier's big contract, Quentin Grimes and some second-round picks.
Whether going to Miami or New York, the Bulls have to trade DeRozan. The Bulls are underwhelming, and DeRozan's hopes of renewing his contract with Chicago are rapidly dashing. While his trade value isn't as high as the Bulls would have liked, it's certainly a smarter option to get some return on a trade than to let him go free on the free agent market.
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