Forward DeMar DeRozan He has spent the last three seasons perfectly playing the role of “King of the Fourth Division.”
Whether it was with a ridiculous corner kick at the buzzer or with his lethal mid-range play when a big shot was needed, he bailed his teammates out of tight situations time and time again.
But it seems that DeRozan Bulls-The days of saving are over.
A source told the Sun-Times on Sunday night that the Alex Caruso and Josh Giddey trade It was the straw that broke the camel’s back. DeRozan, 34, will use his free agency to go elsewhere.
It’s not really a surprise to either side after the Bulls’ season ended with a play-in loss to the Heat, but the door initially remained open for weeks.
However, after several coaching changes and other behind-the-scenes personnel decisions, DeRozan quickly began to have doubts.
When Caruso, a high IQ player and great teammate, was traded to Giddey, DeRozan realized he wasn’t in the Bulls’ plans and he really didn’t want to be anymore.
Until Monday, it was not known where DeRozan would end up or at what price, but once he finds a new home, it will close a chapter in Bulls history that featured great moments but disappointing results.
DeRozan played some of the best games of his career with the Bulls and became a mentor to many of the younger players, but he only led the team to one playoff appearance, a first-round exit against the Bucks in 2021-22. Still, throughout last season, DeRozan and the Bulls wanted to get a deal done.
Now DeRozan must focus on finding a new team. The Lakers are one possible destination.
Meanwhile, the Bulls will continue to push a youth movement. The latest part of that push came Monday, when it was confirmed that they signed center Jalen Smith to a three-year, $27 million contract.
For now, Smith, 24, will be Nikola Vucevic’s backup.
In just over a week, executive vice president Arturas Karnisovas acquired 21-year-old Giddey, drafted 19-year-old Matas Buzelis, re-signed 22-year-old Patrick Williams to a five-year contract and changed the role that 30-year-old Andre Drummond has occupied for the past several years by adding Smith.
Last season with the Pacers, Smith averaged 9.9 points and 5.5 rebounds and shot 42.4 percent from three-point range.
That kind of versatility will allow coach Billy Donovan to play smaller players when needed.
But the question that still hangs over the Bulls like a dark cloud is what to do with Zach LaVine. The relationship between the player and the organization is all but destroyed, so bringing him back would be the worst possible scenario. On the other hand, the organization doesn’t want to simply hit the self-destruct button and have to commit first-round picks to move LaVine.
That would go against the immediate impulse to bet on young players. Draft assets are coveted now rather than being squandered like Monopoly money, as was done in building this core in the first place.
Keeping LaVine would also hamper the development of Giddey and Coby White, the starting backcourts of the future, unless the idea is to start all three and simply mix and match defensive assignments based on opposing personnel.
Either way, LaVine and the Bulls appear to be headed for something ugly.