Free agent shooting guard DeMar DeRozan plans to meet with the Clippers on Tuesday, according to a report from Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes.
DeRozan, a native of Compton, California, is also receiving interest from the Bulls, Haynes confirms. Any agreement between DeRozan and Chicago would likely feature a sign-and-trade, one that could land sharpshooting big man Lauri Markkanen in San Antonio.
As Haynes notes, the Clippers don’t have the cap space to sign DeRozan outright, meaning they would need to be creative in landing his services. The team only has a $5.9MM mid-level exception and probably can’t realistically acquire DeRozan via sign-and-trade since it would create a hard cap on the team’s spending.
DeRozan remains one of the league’s most accomplished scorers and top players still available in free agency. He held per-game averages of 21.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and a career-high 6.9 assists last season, also shooting 49.5% from the floor.
The downside to signing DeRozan, of course, is his three-point shooting. He’s only made 35 threes in his last three seasons, though he remains a lethal mid-range scorer who can finish through traffic and create looks for teammates. He’ll be entering his 13th season.
Clippers superstar Kawhi Leonard is likely to miss part of next season rehabbing a partially torn ACL, making DeRozan more appealing for Los Angeles as it looks to return to the playoffs in the spring.
Leonard will be out all year; if he’s willing to take that amount of money, I’m shocked that he’s not talking to the Lakers. They have the same amount to offer. Also, they have a much better chance to win this year.
Lakers don’t have minutes for him with monk, melo and tht and Ellington.
Clippers are hard capped at $142.6 million SNT
Unless Kawhi or DeRozan pay cut
He could be a starter in Chicago with a nice salary (via sign and trade), so come one DeMar, you’ll go back home in a couple of years.
I dont see an asset SAS would want in a S&T that matches –
I get Clips want to do a lotta stuff but there going to need a lotta outside help
Batum accepting that low figure was a nice start but I don’t think SAS S&T will be as easy – Will he take a 1/5.9 idk maybe
When he said he wanted to contend in Southern California, I think he meant the Lakers.
Sounds like the meeting was quick.
Well this reports means nothing now he a bull
Thanks for listening to me, DeMar, and welcome to Chicago!
Weird move by the bulls, they keep mortgaging the future knowing the best they can do is a 4-7 seed and a 1st to 2nd round exit, but I guess they’re happy being one or two and done with a few additional games on the schedule