The Chicago Bulls are putting their money where their mouth is.
In what will be Chicago’s most critical offseason period since Arturas Karnisovas took over as executive vice president, “the Bulls recently offered (DeMar) DeRozan’s representative a two-year deal at a high annual salary, perhaps as much as $40 million per season” (per NBC Sports Chicago’s K.C. Johnson).
DeRozan earned $28.6 million in 2023-24. That means Chicago is willing to increase the 15-year veteran’s annual salary by nearly 40 percent. With that said, only two teams are projected to have at least $40 million in cap space this offseason: the Detroit Pistons ($60.5 million) and Philadelphia 76ers ($56.2 million).
Bulls Offer Lucrative Contract to Key Free Agent
DeRozan “is seeking a longer-term deal.”
However, it’s hard to imagine he turns down the contract offer, even if the Bulls don’t offer him another year. Unless DeRozan believes the Pistons or Sixers will pay him more than $40 million annually, there’s no reason to. To that point, it’s unlikely that either team would.
Despite DeRozan being a top-tier offensive player, there doesn’t seem to be a place for him in Motor City or the City of Brotherly Love.
Detroit Pistons
With regard to the Pistons, there’s unlikely to be serious interest from either party.
At 34, DeRozan is looking for a long-term, lucrative salary and falls outside of Detroit’s timeline. To that point, organizations like the Pistons usually aren’t looking for a player like DeRozan until they’re further along in their rebuild; when they’re ready to seriously compete in the playoffs. While the Pistons may want to be on that level, they’re not.
They’ve won fewer than 25 games in five straight seasons.
Furthermore, as a team that needs to improve their perimeter defense and shooting, DeRozan isn’t a fit.
Philadelphia 76ers
DeRozan’s on-court fit with the Sixers is also awkward.
They’re a perennial playoff contender that makes more sense for a player with his status. Over the course of his career, DeRozan has been considered an ineffective defender, partly because he’s more explosive vertically than laterally. Furthermore, he’s made just 29.6 percent of his 3s on 1.6 attempts per game.
Ahead of the upcoming free agency period, Philadelphia has been linked to Golden State Warriors sharpshooter Klay Thompson and Los Angeles Clippers two-way playmaker Paul George.
Though Thompson has lost a step as a defender and George is a bit streaky from beyond the arc, both offer a skill that the Sixers want. Thompson is career 41.3 percent shooter from deep. George, who averages 1.7 steals per game and shoots 38.5 percent from 3 for his career, is a premier defender capable of guarding multiple positions at 6-foot-8.
