DeMar DeRozan will not be back in Chicago this autumn. According to ESPN, the veteran will instead move to Sacramento in a sign-and-trade deal with the Bulls, concluding his impactful three-year stint as a key player in Chicago.
According to ESPN, the veteran is set to move to Sacramento in a sign-and-trade deal with the Bulls, marking the end of his impactful three-year stint in Chicago. This move signifies a significant shift for the Bulls as they embark on a serious rebuilding phase, breaking up the core trio that has defined their roster recently. With this trade, the Bulls lose a key leader in their locker room, pivoting towards a younger player-focused rebuild. In exchange, the Bulls will receive Chris Duarte, a fourth-year shooting guard who averaged 3.9 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 0.7 assists per game with the Kings last season. Alongside Duarte, they’ll acquire two second-round draft picks and cash considerations. Duarte, drafted 13th overall in 2021, began his career with the Pacers and is in the final year of his rookie contract. The San Antonio Spurs facilitated the three-way trade by acquiring Harrison Barnes and his remaining $18 million annual salary, enabling the Kings to fit DeRozan under their salary cap.
DeRozan’s upcoming contract is set to be a three-year agreement worth over $70 million, as reported by ESPN. Since his move to the Bulls in a sign-and-trade deal from the San Antonio Spurs in 2021, DeRozan has been a crucial member of the Bulls’ core trio, alongside Zach LaVine and Nikola Vučević, over the last three seasons.
DeRozan experienced a career revival in Chicago, achieving All-Star selections in both 2022 and 2023 after a three-year hiatus from the weekend festivities during his time with the Spurs. His initial months with the Bulls showed great promise, offering a complementary presence to LaVine’s dynamic scoring abilities.
Despite a decrease in his scoring last season, DeRozan maintained averages of 25.5 points and 5.1 assists during his three-year tenure in Chicago. Despite his contract expiring and no extension agreed upon before the trade deadline, the Bulls chose not to trade him this season. Instead, they let DeRozan become a free agent without acquiring any assets in exchange.
Not re-signing DeRozan also meant parting ways with the core foundation that defined the Bulls roster over the last three seasons. His leadership in the locker room and influence among teammates were crucial. Every summer, he organized workouts in Los Angeles for younger players and offered mentorship that was pivotal to the Bulls’ recent success.
The Bulls will depend on young leaders such as Coby White to step up in the absence of DeRozan for the upcoming season.
