When the Chicago Bulls executed a sign and trade to acquire former All-Star DeMar DeRozan, they weren’t just trading for the player. They were trading to make a statement.
Combined with the signatures of both Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso, DeRozan could be the final piece needed to kickstart the beginning of something special in the Windy City, and here’s why.
What the Chicago Bulls get from DeMar DeRozan: Consistent On Ball Creation
Last season, outside of Zach LaVine the Bulls really struggled with on-ball creation at times. While Coby White has the potential to be a very good on-ball playmaker and scorer, because he is so young (21), there were points when he looked overwhelmed and not ready to take that next step into the starting lineup.
DeRozan on the other hand has proven in both Toronto and San Antonio that he can get to the basket at an elite level. On top of this, he has shown over the last couple of years that his passing ability has improved also. Averaging seven assists last season in a Spurs team littered with guards is no easy feat, and it’s this level of creativity on the wing that will go a long way to helping the Bulls playoff hopes.
Balance
Building off DeRozan’s ability to create off the dribble, is the fact that he balances out the Bulls starting 5 very nicely. It can be assumed that the five-man group starting for Chicago will be Ball, LaVine, DeRozan, Patrick Williams, and Nikola Vucevic. With this lineup now the Bulls have two elite-level defenders (Ball and Williams), 2 elite perimeter creators (LaVine and DeRozan), and an elite post player (Vucevic).
It’s hard to find teams that have struck such a nice balance of offense and defense. Even the best teams in the league (the Nets) struggle to find the right pieces to surround their stars. But with DeRozan, the Bulls have got a guy who on some nights can be the star, while on others is more than capable and willing to take a step back and allow someone else to flourish.
Statement of Intent
It’s now been five years since the Bulls last made the playoffs (2017). And with Chicago struggling to find the right young pieces to build around, at times it made it look like this front office was lost. But with the emergence of LaVine, it looks like the new EVP of basketball operations Artūras Karnišovas has found his fitting as to where he wants to take this team. For too long the Bulls have tried to play it safe and bide their time.
But with LaVine’s impending free agency coming up, the front office knew now was the time to task a risk. And DeRozan symbolizes the calculated risks the Bulls are taking this summer.
The trade for Vucevic was a step in the right direction. Adding Ball and Alex Caruso helped reassure fans that good things were to come. But the signing of DeRozan tells not just the fans, but the entire league that the Bulls aren’t backing down from the rest of the East. With a squad, this good the playoffs are a given. And with the star power on this team, no one in the East is safe.