Bulls Rumors: Knicks had ‘sincere interest’ in DeRozan this offseason
There are a number of interesting Bulls rumors going around in the media this week ahead of the start of Training Camp and the preseason in just a few weeks. And a storyline that was once one of the more hotly discussed topics of the offseason around the NBA landscape is something that still commands headlines at times.
It was known by the time this cycle of free agency started that executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley were interested in adding star shooting guard/forward DeMar DeRozan. But there were other teams around the NBA interested in DeRozan, including the likes of the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, and Los Angeles Clippers.
Bulls rumors indicate legit interest from the Knicks this offseason in DeMar DeRozan
But it seems like the team that was most interested in bringing DeRozan into the mix outside of the Bulls was the Knicks. According to a report from Marc Berman of the NY Post on Sep. 9, the Knicks were “sincerely interested” in signing DeRozan this offseason. But the Bulls just gave DeRozan a better offer than the Knicks did when it was all said and done.
It is true that the Bulls and Knicks offered DeRozan similar situations in terms of postseason contention. Both the Knicks and Bulls are rising teams in the Eastern Conference that surely look like playoff contenders. But it’s also hard to see either team truly pushing for title contention next season. You never know, though.
We just witnessed the Phoenix Suns come a couple of games shy of winning an NBA Championship after missing the playoffs the prior season.
Maybe the Bulls can do something similar if the other top contenders in the East falter in the postseason next year. Adding key players like DeRozan, star center Nikola Vucevic, point guard Lonzo Ball, etc. since the trade deadline last season will help the Bulls get there.
The Bulls landed DeRozan in a sign-and-trade deal with the San Antonio Spurs that saw veteran forward Thaddeus Young, forward Al-Farouq Aminu, and some future draft picks shipped out. DeRozan then signed a three-year contract worth a total of around $85 million.
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On Sep. 28, DeRozan and the Bulls will open up Training Camp in Chicago. And then, the preseason slate opens up on Oct. 5 at home at the United Center against Lauri Markkanen and the Cleveland Cavaliers.