Grade the trade: Surprise team snags DeMar DeRozan in stunning mock deal

Would the Bulls make this trade?

Chicago should accumulate assets if they decide to sell off pieces. They are not winning with their current core. The Bulls missed the playoffs last season and were knocked out in the first round in 2022. They cannot count on Lonzo Ball to return and have no way to improve their current roster.

Joe Harris will be on a minimum contract if he is back in the NBA next season, so this deal hinges on Killian Hayes and the draft capital. Do the Bulls see Hayes as a future starter or rotation piece in his prime? The 22-year-old has untapped potential, but his shooting woes and inefficient scoring make him more of a reserve guard to out of the rotation on a contending team.

The protected first-round draft pick owed to the Knicks limits the value of the selection Detroit sends to Chicago. The Bulls wouldn’t get it until 2027, at the earliest, and cannot count on the Pistons still being near the bottom of the standings when the selections convey.

Grade: C-

The Chicago Bulls need to do better if they trade DeMar DeRozan. This isn’t the worst move, but it is the minimum return any team should expect for a six-time All-Star still playing at an elite level. This deal earns a C-minus, and Chicago will certainly ask for more if DeRozan is to be moved.

Will the Bulls make significant moves before the Feb. 8 trade deadline? There will be plenty of rumors, and now is the time to make a splash, so stay tuned for all the latest.