The Chicago Bulls’ offseason is being held hostage by two problems.
The situations with both Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan have deteriorated to the point that it is unlikely that either of them will on the roster next season.
Zach LaVine situation getting worse for the Bulls
The relationship between the Bulls and LaVine has reportedly soured beyond repair, which doesn’t help his trade value in a market where the Bulls already had zero leverage.
They are now likely to have to pay if they want to get off LaVine’s deal, possibly in the form of a future first-round pick, of which they have precious few.
With cap space evaporating quickly around the league, the list of teams that could even take on LaVine’s deal is dwindling.
The Bulls have to decide just how bad a deal they’ll accept, or otherwise go into next season with an unhappy LaVine getting paid $45 million.
Possibilities for DeMar DeRozan are few but still exist
DeMar DeRozan is a free agent after he and the Bulls couldn’t agree on an extension and now there is a strong chance they will lose him for nothing.
Their only chance is a sign-and-trade, and according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, the Kings are a team that has expressed interest:
Kings have talked to Bulls about DeRozan sign and trade, per source. Spurs also now another possibility. Despite DeRozan interest in Miami, Heat not in position to give him what he's seeking at this time... Heat will hope opportunity on some player it wants arises this summer.
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) July 4, 2024
Could the Bulls solve one of their offseason problems and actually get something in return? It’s possible. But they may have to make a tough decision instead.
Chicago Bulls sign-and-trade of DeMar DeRozan to the Sacramento Kings
DeRozan certainly doesn’t have to do a sign-and-trade and could just go wherever he wants.
There aren’t any other teams with cap space to make DeRozan the kind of offer he is looking for, so a sign-and-trade might be his best chance to get paid and end up on a team he likes.
The Kings make sense, as they are looking to make a splash in the Western Conference, have contracts they can trade and DeRozan is from California, so might not mind a move closer to home.
The Bulls have expressed fondness for Kevin Huerter in the past, so a deal based around the two of them is not out of the question.
Huerter would at least give the Bulls something for DeRozan, and can provide shooting from the wing that they need, though his numbers took a dip this season.
The other caveat is that Huerter has two years remaining on his deal, so the Bulls may be able to get the Kings to tack on another asset.
The Bulls may have to do the hard thing instead if that asset isn’t on the table.
Letting DeMar DeRozan walk in free agency is a pill the Bulls may have to swallow
When the Bulls stubbornly refused to trade any of their veteran assets at the deadline, they were setting up this exact scenario.
But you don’t fix a problem by throwing good money after bad, so there is a question of whether the Bulls should be taking on a contract like Huerter’s, which isn’t the worst, but isn’t great for a guy who would not likely be part of the future plans.
The Bulls will continue to seek out sign-and-trades that make sense, and if they can get a useful rotation player on a short-term deal, a young player with upside or draft assets, then it’s probably the best they can salvage.
If they have to take on a middling deal that doesn’t help them much now or the future, then the Bulls may have to do the tough thing and just let DeRozan walk.
This is a situation the Bulls should have never put themselves in to begin with, as they mortgaged their future and missed out on plenty of draft assets to chase the play-in tournament only to get stomped.
This isn’t just hindsight, there was no one who believed the Bulls were serious contenders for anything last season and they lost their chance to cash in, leaving them in the predicament they’re in now.