NBA Rumors: General 'Belief' Chicago Bulls Will Retain Key Player

For the fifth time in six seasons, including the last two in a row, the Chicago Bulls failed to make it to the NBA playoffs. Once rostering one of the most intriguing cores in the league, the Bulls will have major decisions to make this offseason. Zach LaVine has appeared in numerous trade rumors all season, it is still unclear when, or if, Lonzo Ball will return to the court, and Nikola Vucevic could be on the move. However, amidst all the uncertainty, new reports have shed light on the Bulls’ possibility of keeping one of their major core players. According to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, the Bulls are expected to re-sign DeMar DeRozan this summer.

In general, the belief around the league is DeRozan will ultimately re-sign with the Bulls, given the team’s continued desire to compete, his role, and Chicago’s willingness to pay him.

DeRozan has been with the team since 2021. In that time, he has finished top-10 in MVP voting once, made it to two All-Star teams, and finished top-three in Clutch Player of the Year voting twice. Additionally, he was selected to the All-NBA Second Team in 2021-22. Furthermore, despite having been in the league for 15 years, DeRozan’s 37.8 minutes per game last season led the league.

Chicago Bulls Reportedly Gave DeMar DeRozan a Contract Offer

In April, NBC Sports Chicago’s K.C. Johnson reported the Bulls offered DeRozan a two-year deal worth “as much as $40 million per season.” Artūras Karnišovas, the Bulls’ executive vice president, has made it clear he wants DeRozan back with the team.

“DeMar’s been great for us for three years,” Karnišovas said. “He’s been invested in the city of Chicago and has been really great to our young guys. So both sides are interested in continuing and we’ll see what happens in free agency.”

Furthermore, it appears this is a mutual feeling. After the regular season ended, DeRozan publicly expressed his desire to remain in Chicago.

“My stance on wanting to be here is still the same, but I just want to win,” said DeRozan, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. “Just have the opportunity to win and not [have] to go home to see the first round of the playoffs, second round of the playoffs. It’s frustrating.”

Additionally, teammate Coby White is hopeful the Compton native will re-sign with the Bulls.

“It would mean everything to this organization, to the fans, to this city,” Bulls guard Coby White said. “So whatever he wants I think he should get paid. It would be important for us to have him back. Me personally, I really want him back.”

The Last Word

Scotto’s recent reports line up with what DeRozan and Chicago’s representatives have publicly said. DeRozan is still an All-NBA level talent and has had a good stint with the Bulls so far. A reunion makes sense for both sides. It will be interesting to see if DeRozan’s Bulls tenure will continue past this upcoming summer.