The Chicago Bulls appear to be on the verge of losing their best player, but they are reportedly hoping to receive something in return.
According to K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports, the Bulls would be willing to do a sign-and-trade for free-agent shooting guard DeMar DeRozan with teams that are interested in him, such as the Los Angeles Lakers.
"The Lakers' interest is genuine, and the Bulls are open to sign-and-trade possibilities, sources confirmed," Johnson stated. "But any sign-and-trade would have to be for at least three years and at less annual salary than what DeRozan wants."
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski explained on Tuesday's episode of SportsCenter that DeRozan could be better served if he settled for a one-year deal this summer and explored the open market during the 2025 offseason because the salary cap is expected to rise.
"Let the market reset next year because if you do a sign-and-trade, it's got to be at least three years. And now you're locked into a three-year deal at a number you may not like," Wojnarowski said. "The Lakers are interested, but is there a mechanism that would allow them to create a slot to acquire him? That's going to be the harder part."
A six-time All-Star, DeRozan has spent the last three years with the Bulls. He played 79 games this past season and averaged 24.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists, but it wasn't enough to stop Chicago from missing the playoffs for the sixth time in the last seven years.
The Lakers are looking to pivot after falling short in their pursuit of star shooting guard Klay Thompson, who chose to join the Dallas Mavericks. Not counting LeBron James, who is expected to re-sign with the Lakers, DeRozan is the best free agent remaining on the market and a Los Angeles native. He would be a strong addition and fit alongside James and Anthony Davis.
However, it's clear that it won't be easy for the Lakers to add DeRozan to their roster. Los Angeles has some work to do if it wants to bring the 34-year-old home.
