Report: Chicago Bulls Want to Dump Zach LaVine and Lonzo Ball Contracts

Haynes' report ended with a declarative take on DeRozan's future with the Bulls, "the DeMar DeRozan era in Chicago is officially over." It's worth noting the logic sandwiched between Haynes' stating the Bulls have not spoken with DeRozan presumably since the start of the 2024 free agency period and declaring the Bulls' DeRozan era over.

"They [Chicago Bulls] are willing to talk to DeMar if they get rid of those contracts", Haynes remarked. The DeRozan era likely has concluded inside the United Center, but it begs the question that if the Bulls' front office successfully dumped LaVine and Ball's contracts, AND DeRozan is still on the market as an unrestricted free agent, is there a path to a Bulls contract extension waiting for DeRozan?

The Bulls reportedly offered a two-year $80 million contract extension during the 2023-24 NBA regular season. 2024 free agent-market pressures have hit notable NBA star veterans in their new deals such as Tobias Harris and Klay Thompson . Tobias Harris earned an average annual salary of $36 million in his five-year maximum contract with the Philadelphia 76ers and agreed to a two-year, $52 million contract with the Detroit Pistons. 

Meanwhile, Klay Thompson agreed to a three-year $50 million contract with the Dallas Mavericks after concluding a five-year maximum contract with the Golden State Warriors and an average annual salary of $37.9 million.  

It appears the of price tag that star-level second or third option player enjoyed under the previous NBA player collective bargaining agreement is no more as franchises are showing more cost consciousness in their free-agent signings. It's possible that the money DeMar DeRozan wants in his next contract may not exist in the NBA anymore. Will the current free agent market change DeRozan's salary appetite in his next NBA contract?

All of this is to say that DeMar DeRozan may suit up for a new NBA franchise when the 2024-25 NBA season tips off. However, the realm of possibilities for a DeRozan/Bulls reboot comes back into play if Arturas Karnisovas finds a way to clear Zach LaVine and Lonzo Ball's contracts from the Bulls' cap sheet.