Category: Bulls Free Agency

DeMar DeRozan could be one of the most overpaid players this offseason

Will Chicago Bulls star DeMar DeRozan end up being one of the most overpaid players this offseason?

As the Chicago Bulls move forward this summer, they should be looking to make some significant roster changes in hopes of avoiding the continuous cycle of mediocrity they’ve found themselves stuck in. The current roster isn’t working, and it’s time to shake it up. But what does that entail?

DeMar DeRozan is going to be an unrestricted free agent this summer, and reports have indicated that Chicago could look to give him a deal worth roughly $40 million annually. But that could end up being a massive overpay if the Bulls continue to perform at the same level they have been for the past few years.

The Chicago Bulls Central YouTube channel recently discussed the notion that DeRozan could end up being one of the most overpaid players in free agency this summer.

At 34 years old, DeRozan is entering the final years of his career, and giving him a massive contract could be something a team seriously regrets.

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DeMar DeRozan contract situation could be out of Bulls’ hands

Is it for the best that the DeMar DeRozan situation may be out of the Chicago Bulls’ hands?

The Chicago Bulls need to figure out what they want to do with DeMar DeRozan this summer. The veteran forward is an unrestricted free agent and they must decide if they want to bring him back or let him walk. However, according to Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune, the fact that the decision is slightly out of their hands could be for the best.

“The Bulls already landed on an initial price, according to an NBC Sports Chicago report: $40 million a year for the next two seasons,” Poe wrote. “This number is confusing for several reasons, not the least because it could force the Bulls to tiptoe near if not over the luxury-tax cutoff to maintain essentially the same core group that has been unsuccessful.

“A potential saving grace for the Bulls is that this decision is somewhat out of their hands. After the play-in loss in Miami, DeRozan cracked open the door to signing elsewhere as he admitted to frustration — and a rare sliver of concern over his age. Even if the front office highballs DeRozan, it’s possible he would choose a potential path to a ring or proximity to his family over the highest bidder.”

Re-signing DeRozan for a massive price would be a tough look for a Bulls team that should be looking to make serious roster changes.

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What is the Chicago Bulls’ biggest offseason priority?

What is the Chicago Bulls’ biggest offseason priority?

The Chicago Bulls are heading into the summer with a bunch of crucial decisions in front of them. Arturas Karnisovas has made it clear that their current roster isn’t working, so a serious shake-up should be in store. They can’t keep moving forward with the guys they have, accepting mediocrity at every turn.

Rumors have already indicated that the Bulls are hoping to trade Zach LaVine this summer, and guys like Nikola Vucevic and Alex Caruso should be hitting the trade market, too. In addition, Chicago needs to figure out what they want to do with DeMar DeRozan, as he’s going to be an unrestricted free agent.

The CHGO Sports YouTube channel recently spoke about what the Bulls’ biggest offseason priority should be.

It seems as though the Bulls are focused on getting rid of LaVine, but should that be taking priority over the decision they have to make regarding DeRozan?

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DeMar DeRozan listed among players most likely to get overpaid

Will Chicago Bulls star DeMar DeRozan get overpaid this offseason?

Heading into this offseason, the Chicago Bulls have some tough decisions to make, and one of the toughest is what to do with DeMar DeRozan. The veteran wing is going to be a free agent, and the Bulls need to figure out if they want to bring him back and, more importantly, how much they are willing to pay him. Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report believes DeRozan will end up getting overpaid this offseason.

“At the outset, it should be noted that DeMar DeRozan is coming off one of the best three-year stretches of his decorated career,” Bailey wrote. “As a Chicago Bull, he’s averaged 25.5 points and 5.1 assists. He has a 10th-place MVP finish. And after his teams were plus-0.0 points per 100 possessions with him on the floor and plus-2.8 with him off it over the first 12 years of his career, that trend has flipped in Chicago. Over the last three years, the Bulls are plus-0.4 with DeRozan and minus-1.4 without him.

“But DeRozan will be 35 before the 2024-25 campaign starts. He was a minus defender this season, according to Dunks and Threes’ estimated plus-minus (one of the most trusted catch-all metrics in NBA front offices). And he’s still not a reliable three-point shooter in a league in which that skill has become almost crucial for guards and wings. His reputation and the fact that this is a relatively weak free-agent class mean he’ll probably sign another contract that will pay him around $20 million annually, but that will feel onerous by the end of the deal, when DeRozan is well into his late 30s.”

Paying DeRozan a massive chunk of change seems like a mistake for the Bulls.

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Chicago Bulls free agency plan should focus on future not continuity

As the Chicago Bulls prepare for the 2024 offseason, they should be looking toward the future, not the present.

In 2021, the Chicago Bulls decided to go all-in on a new core of DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Nikola Vucevic. Throw in the role-player pieces of Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso, and the Bulls were off and running. Until they weren’t. An injury to Ball that has still yet to be resolved derailed their season, and now, they’ve spent two years without an above-.500 season.

Heading into the 2024 offseason, big changes should be on the horizon in Chicago. They need to take a long look in the mirror and figure out what they can do to improve their future outlook because their current roster clearly isn’t working.

Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report recently detailed an offseason plan for the Bulls, and in it, he breaks down their potential pathways in free agency.

“If Chicago bets big on continuity again, then financial flexibility isn’t happening,” Buckley wrote. “Should the Bulls choose to bring back DeRozan (unrestricted free agent), Patrick Williams (restricted) and Andre Drummond (unrestricted), they could wind up in the luxury tax. If they don’t, they’d have a better chance of adding external talent. Then again, letting them walk might be a signal that this front office is prioritizing the future and therefore less incentivized to spend now.”

The Bulls need change in a bad way.

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DeMar DeRozan listed among ‘riskiest’ expensive free agents

Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan was labeled as one of the “riskiest” free agents of the summer.

The Chicago Bulls have some cutthroat decisions to make this summer. Rumors have indicated their willingness to pay DeMar DeRozan in free agency, but that comes with risks. Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report listed DeRozan among the “riskiest big-money” free agents of the offseason.

“It’s fair to question where DeRozan stands on a championship-level team, though,” Swartz wrote. “He’s set to turn 35 this summer and clearly isn’t a No. 1 option. Even being a No. 2 looks like a bit of a stretch (could a Nikola Jokić-DeRozan combo win a title?), leaving us to consider DeRozan a solid No. 3 option. How many teams would be willing to match the Bulls’ offer of $40 million a year for their third-best player?

“DeRozan returning to the Bulls doesn’t make sense for his own championship aspirations, pending some drastic changes around him. For someone entering his 16th season but with just one conference finals appearance thus far, winning a title has to be at the top of his wish list. That isn’t going to happen in Chicago anytime soon. Exploring sign-and-trade options to a contender may be what’s best for all involved here, especially if DeRozan will accept an annual salary closer to $30 million a year.”

The Bulls aren’t anywhere close to a title contender, so paying DeRozan doesn’t make too much sense. Simultaneously, teams around the league have the right to question whether DeRozan’s playstyle is conducive to winning at the highest level.

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Goga Bitadze listed as potential Chicago Bulls free agency target

Goga Bitadze was suggested as a potential free agency target for the Chicago Bulls.

As the Chicago Bulls look to restructure their roster this summer, they’ll have a lot of different pathways to consider. Nailing their pick in the draft will be a top priority, as will hitting on any trades they make. However, the Bulls will also have to be smart with their money in free agency. Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report sees Goga Bitadze as a potential target for them.

“For the past two seasons, the Bulls have had one of the Association’s best backup bigs in Andre Drummond,” Buckley wrote. “He may have been too productive for them to keep, though, as he enters unrestricted free agency having posted per-36-minutes averages of 18.9 rebounds, 17.4 points and 3.1 combined steals and blocks, per Basketball-Reference. If Drummond heads elsewhere, Chicago could tab Goga Bitadze as his replacement.

“The 24-year-old quietly engineered his best season to date. With his breakout somewhat masked by his limited role within Orlando’s crowded frontcourt, though, he might not see the kind of contract offers his play arguably warrants. And since he’s mostly confined to contributing on the interior, he probably isn’t the kind of big that really excites modern front offices. Still, he’s super reliable as a finisher (career-high 60.3 field-goal percentage) and as a rim protector (1.2 blocks in only 15.4 minutes), and he sees the game well enough to chip in as a passer, too.”

Adding a guy like Bitadze could help the Bulls upgrade their center depth.

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Chicago Bulls front office deserves credit for free agency steals

Despite all the criticism they get, the Chicago Bulls front office made some great moves this past offseason.

The Chicago Bulls have been a beacon of mediocrity for the past few seasons. Outside of a brief period of success when Lonzo Ball was healthy, they’ve been a middle-of-the-pack team, having won just one playoff game with Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Nikola Vucevic leading the way. Needless to say, the fanbase has been frustrated.

However, while Chicagoans have a right to be upset with the front office for their lack of movement, as the team hasn’t made a trade at the deadline in three years, they have done some good things, too. This summer, they brought back two key pieces in free agency, both of whom have been amazing this season.

The Bulls Central YouTube channel recently discussed why the Bulls front office deserves credit for re-signing Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu for great contracts.

White re-signed in Chicago on a three-year, $36 million contract, while Dosunmu inked a three-year, $21 million deal.

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Buddy Hield listed as ‘dream’ free agency target for Chicago Bulls

Buddy Hield could be a perfect free agency target for the Chicago Bulls.

It’s been a weird season for the Chicago Bulls this season. They started the year 5-14 and looked destined to be one of the worst teams in the Eastern Conference. However, they turned things around, and now, they’re going to be in the Play-In Tournament, likely taking on the Atlanta Hawks in the 9-10 games.

That said, there are a lot of areas in which the Bulls should look to improve this summer. One of which is their play behind the three-point line, as the Bulls have consistently been one of the worst shooting teams for the past few seasons with this current core.

Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report listed Buddy Hield as a “dream” free agency target for the Bulls this summer.

“The Bulls are in the bottom half of the league in both threes per game and three-point percentage, so a volume outside shooter like Hield (3.1 threes with a 40.1 three-point percentage for his career) would do a lot to open up the middle of the floor for LaVine and Vučević,” Bailey wrote.

Adding Hield would give Chicago a huge boost on offense.

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Does DeMar DeRozan have leverage in extension talks with Bulls?

Who has leverage in extension talked: DeMar DeRozan or the Chicago Bulls?

The Chicago Bulls stood pat at the trade deadline for the third year in a row this season, choosing to keep their core intact. However, rumors have indicated that the Bulls plan on trying to trade Zach LaVine this summer. But where does that leave DeMar DeRozan? Will he still be on the team?

DeRozan is about to wrap up the final year of his contract with the Bulls, and the two sides didn’t work out an extension. That means he’ll be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, free to sign with any team he wants. However, he could still re-sign with the Bulls.

The Chicago Bulls Central YouTube channel recently discussed whether or not DeRozan has leverage in extension talks with the Bulls.

By not trading DeRozan, the Bulls now run the risk of losing him for nothing in free agency. And while it would allow them to move on from the current era, they still lose a lot of value.

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