5 Moves that get Chicago Bulls out of mess they created
By Tyler Watts
4. Sell DeRozan for draft picks
DeMar DeRozan turns 34 in August. He is still an elite player, but for how much longer? The 6’6 wing is a master in the mid-range, who just scored 24.5 points per game. There is still plenty to be excited about, but will he be dropping 20 a night at 38 years old?
DeRozan is extension-eligible this summer as he heads into the final year of his contract. He will likely want $30 million per season over the next three years, but the Bulls cannot afford to pay him $90 more million without seeing an uptick in victories. With Lonzo Ball out for the foreseeable future, the wins are not coming in Chicago.
DeRozan should have plenty of trade value after back-to-back All-Star appearances. Can they convince some team to part with two first-round draft picks for the veteran? The Bulls should be looking to make a move before the regular season begins. Teams will certainly be interested, but the price is a mystery.
The Chicago Bulls cannot give DeMar DeRozan a long-term contract unless they want to be stuck in the middle for four more seasons. Now is the time to trade the six-time All-Star, but the franchise should not stop there.