DeMar DeRozan is untouchable. Or is he?
While a report in the first week of December indicated that the Bulls have no interest in trading the five-time All-Star, both DeRozan and the team continue to show up in trade rumors.
First, ESPN's Zach Lowe mentioned that a certain franchise in Los Angeles has discussed the possibility of pursuing DeRozan. More recently, an NBA source told Bleacher Report's Eric Pincus that "everyone is watching Chicago very closely" and the Bulls "need to blow it up."
How good is DeRozan and which teams are an option for him if the Bulls do decide to take calls?
Let's take a closer look.
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How good is DeMar DeRozan?
DeRozan has long been a polarizing player, but he's a proven bucket-getter who is coming off of one of the best seasons of his career. He averaged a career-high 27.9 points per game in 2021-22 while shooting 50.4 percent from the field and 35.2 percent from 3-point range.
DeRozan still isn't a high-volume 3-point shooter, but he remains an elite midrange shooter, and only 14 players scored more points in the paint than him last season. He's also one of the best closers in the NBA. He's finished in the top five in clutch scoring in each of the last three seasons, peaking last season at No. 2.
Those numbers helped DeRozan earn his fifth All-Star selection and third All-NBA selection. He even earned one fifth-place vote for MVP.
TSN's Steph Noh had DeRozan ranked as the 19th-best player in the NBA entering this season, wedged between Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard and Bulls teammate Zach LaVine. Chicago has gotten off to a rough start, but DeRozan has once again been playing at a high level, pouring in 26.0 points on a nightly basis.
Even at the age of 33, DeRozan is one of the best isolation and pick-and-roll scorers in the NBA. He's never been known for his defense — he's neither a stopper nor much of a playmaker on that end of the court — but his development as a passer has made him a more well-rounded player in recent years.
MORE: Who is NBA's Clutch Player of the Year so far?
DeMar DeRozan contract details
DeRozan signed a three-year, $81.9 million contract with the Bulls as an unrestricted free agent in 2021. His contract does not include a player or team option, setting him up to be a free agent again after the 2023-24 season.
DeRozan is on the books for $27.3 million this season and $28.6 million next season.
| 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | |
| DeMar DeRozan | $27.3 million | $28.6 million | UFA |
DeMar DeRozan trade destinations
Los Angeles Lakers
There's interest on both sides here. Before signing with the Bulls, DeRozan said he gave real thought to joining the Lakers. More recently, the Lakers have been mentioned as having had "internal discussions" about trading for DeRozan.
Ideally, LeBron James and Anthony Davis would be paired with a better defender and 3-point shooter than DeRozan, but he would give a Lakers team that currently ranks 21st in offensive efficiency a scoring and playmaking punch.
Russell Westbrook for DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic works financially. The Lakers would otherwise have to package together at least three players to match DeRozan's salary.
The draw for the Bulls would be the much-discussed two first-round picks the Lakers are dangling.
Toronto Raptors
This would be a short-sighted move by the Raptors, but they have plenty of history with DeRozan and are in desperate need of someone who can create when the game slows down.
According to Cleaning the Glass, Toronto is averaging 89.0 points per 100 possessions in the halfcourt. Sounds bad, right? It's the worst mark in the NBA.
It wouldn't be difficult for the Raptors to match DeRozan's salary and they have full control of their future first-round picks. It might not be likely, but it's an option.
Miami Heat
The Heat have never been shy about pursuing stars and have one of DeRozan's best friends, Kyle Lowry, on the roster. Shooting would certainly be cramped with DeRozan, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, but similar to the Lakers, he would help a Heat team that is struggling to score.
Ironically, Lowry for DeRozan straight-up works, but the Heat could build a package around Duncan Robinson's contract and draft picks. Tyler Herro is an option in theory, but the poison pill restriction would complicate any deal he's involved in.
Dallas Mavericks
Luka Doncic could do with some help. Is DeRozan the answer?
Doncic, 23, and DeRozan, 33, aren't on the same timeline, but for a team fresh off of a trip to the Western Conference Finals that lost its second-best player for nothing in free agency, he could be worth a look. DeRozan would give the Mavericks a much-needed secondary creator and could take some of the playmaking burden off of Doncic, much like how Jalen Brunson did.
The Mavericks have a number of mid-tier salaries, so they could put together a few different packages for DeRozan, the appeal for the Bulls once again being centered around draft capital.
