Chicago figures to be at the center of many trade conversations around the league after a disappointing start has the team sitting with a 6-14 record — 13th in the East — after 20 games.
Along the same lines, scouts and executives Sam Amick of The Athletic has spoken to believe Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan is “very likely” to be traded prior to the February deadline. According to Amick, the Heat and Knicks are teams that appeal to DeRozan, who is on an expiring $28.6MM contract.
DeRozan, 34, was an All-Star each of the past two seasons for Chicago and earned an All-NBA Second Team nod in 2021/22. His numbers are down a bit this season, but he’s still averaging 21.3 PPG, 4.6 APG, 3.2 RPG and 1.0 SPG on .450/.364/.810 shooting in 18 games (35.2 MPG).
Here’s more on the Bulls:
- Keith Smith of Spotrac believes the Bulls should tear down their roster and basically start from scratch. Smith takes an in-depth look at Chicago’s assets and salary cap situation, and lists five trade proposals to kick-start a rebuild, though he acknowledges the Bulls are highly unlikely to undergo such a drastic overhaul.
- Third-year guard Ayo Dosunmu got his first start of the ’23/24 season in Thursday’s overtime victory over Milwaukee and played well, per K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago. Dosunmu, who finished with 14 points (on 6-of-8 shooting), six rebounds, six assists and three steals in 39 minutes, received praise from head coach Billy Donovan. “He was great because his tempo and pace in pick-and-roll was really good. He wasn’t rushed,” Donovan said. “He read the floor. He read the defense. He made really good decisions, not only for himself but he generated shots for other guys. He got Vooch (Nikola Vucevic) a lot of opportunities.” Dosunmu is likely to continue to receive more run with Zach LaVine set to miss the next week due to foot soreness, Johnson adds.
- Julian Phillips, a second-round pick who was selected 35th overall in this year’s draft, played a season-high 14 minutes on Thursday with both LaVine and DeRozan (ankle) sidelined, Johnson notes in another story. The 20-year-old small forward missed all three of his field goal attempts, but he played with aggression and had three rebounds and three assists, Johnson writes.
- Fourth-year forward Patrick Williams, a restricted free agent in 2024, is starting to turn things around after an extremely slow start, according to Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times. “Patrick has done a good job,” Donovan said. “He’s been more consistent (with) being physical and feeling his presence out there.” Williams is averaging 13.6 PPG and 5.0 RPG on .520/.474/.875 shooting over the past five games, including four starts (31.5 MPG).
DeRozans preference Miami or New York. Not surprised he wants to stay out East and on a contender.
He’s mates with Jimmy but I don’t think he works there with his lack of shooting paired with Jimmys lack of shooting. Not to mention they have Tyler Herro and Jaime Jaquez who’s been terrific so far.
New York, they could do with his leadership and experience. I could also see him pairing well with Thibs but they don’t really have a spot for him either with alot of 2/3’s (Grimes, Fouriner, Barrett, Hart and DiVancenzo).
If the price isn’t high then I could see them offloading Fouriner and young players like McBride, and Grimes with a second rounder.
Brunson Barrett DeRozan Randle Robinson
IQ DiVancenzo Hart Hartenstein
That works and I could see Chicago bro g happy enough to get back an expiring deal, two young players and a draft pick.
I like DeRozan in Indy with Tyrese, Bruce Brown and Myles Turner. They have one of the best offensives already and filled with shooters to provide spacing but could do with his experience.
Obviously the Lakers will no doubt be a team that gets mentioned too but it’s hard to see how they make a deal that Chicago would value. Rui and Gabe Vincent is that really enough ??
Didn’t you read the shooting splits ??
DeM slides right in as the starting SG. With him on team Quickley and Grimes get moved. Knicks still need a backup to Randle.
The shooting splits?
In reference to Miami I’m guessing
Butler is shooting 40% from 3 but on 1 make a game…. He’s a career 2.4 attempts from 3 per game. That’s the nearly the exact same as DeRozan. 1 make per game and 2.4 attempts per game on his career.
As for NY, like I said he would be good for them but they have a few wings already and I’d also have concerns over everyone getting touches with all those ball dominant guys and a lack of defence with Brunson DeRozan and Randle.
Maybe they could get Pat Williams in the deal as Randles back up and he is a good defender and shooter
still averaging 21.3 PPG, 4.6 APG, 3.2 RPG and 1.0 SPG on .450/.364/.810 shooting in 18 games (35.2 MPG).
Right there on top ….. means he can shoot. You should also look up what he does in 4Q. He’s one of best in 4Q. A closer, what Knicks need.
Al, once again, moving IQ to get DeRozan makes no sense. Knicks don’t need another ball-dominant ISO player, who also can’t shoot 3s. And they certainly don’t need that at the expense of losing IQ, one of the main reasons the Knicks have some of the best depth in the league. IQ’s advanced stats and TS% are better than DeRozan’s, he can actually shoot 3s (a must for the Knicks), and his per 36 minutes numbers are better.
Adding DeRozan and subtracting IQ and Grimes makes the Knicks a worse team. Simple as that.
Makes no sense ????
First we don’t need IQ. He’s not a SG. DeR is 6’ 6” SG. Plays both ways . He brings his 20 a gm as a starter. He plays solid team D. With Mitch behind him. It’s amazing folks here call him Iso. When he’s avg 5 ast in SA and Chicago. He played in a team offense system in Toronto. He’s an intelligent vet. He knows what Knicks need. Another scorer to take the ball from Randle, Jalen. He gets their respect. His scoring makes it easier for Everyone else. Now it’s not Grines 10 a gm. It’s DeM 20 a gm. He takes us up a level. And we lose nothing. Cause Hart and Donte need the mins. McBride can play 16-20 mins a gm. He’s read ready. IQ is a PG who will never start in NY. So he’s not worth 25 mill to us. Yes is could be for another player. Only one other I would want is Grant, Rudy. We don’t need to give away all our picks. DeM takes us to Finals Now for next 3 yrs. Quickly nor Grimes can do that.
Derozan “could” put the Knicks over the top with his clutch scoring. Fournier’s expiring, Grimes (a starter) and 1 FRP is worth the Knicks paying to chase a ring with a rental.
He’d never pay for a meal again in NY.
Trade Zach and demar, keep everyone else. AC is too fun to watch to trade him, vuc looked like Orlando vuc without Zach/demar , Coby and pat won’t get enough of a return to justify giving up on them, and ayo needs more playing time.
This team actually looked competent without Zach and demar .. ball pinging around, good communication on D, finding vuc in PnR, and guys looking like they were having fun without Zachs snoozes on D and demar playing 1v1.
Demar to the knicks (mcpucho’s package is realistic and fair for both teams), Zach to the lakers if they’re desperate which will prolly be the case. Since Dallas is good they likely won’t trade kyrie, so lakers need to get a guard who can shoulder some offense. Zach is prolly their best option in that respect. If not LA, I could also see herro for lavine, or maybe charlotte says screw it and trades Hayward’s expiring.
Heat need a PG more than a SG.
How long have I said he fits us like a glove.
DeM DeR >>>>> to NYK ……
DeR may want to come to the NYK, and some posters may like the idea. But I doubt the NYK FO would do much more than laugh at the idea. Keep in mind that the FO passed on pursuing DeR in FA 2 years ago as a non-fit (age and skill set), and this was when DeR was younger and carried no trade price, and the FO hadn’t spent 3.5 years building the current team. A 180? I’m guessing that a FO change would likely need to be a prerequisite for it, with the new FO not thinking very much of the current squad built by the current FO.
They didn’t have the money, cap space to sign him.
I don’t care what the FO thinks. I’m telling you he’s the guy we should get. Gives us exactly what Mitchell would give us. At a much cheaper price. He’s a vet who would fit in. Who has the respect of Knicks players. Randle or RJ aren’t going anywhere. DeR fits this team easy. I
Al, I was not addressing your opinion on DeR to the NYK. If I had interest in doing that I would have done it directly long ago. There is a difference between fact and opinion. For instance, the NYK, in the off season of 2021, had over 50 mm in cap space, and the FO didn’t even meet with FA DeR after he expressed interest in the team. That’s in the fact category, and it’s far more relevant in determining the likelihood of the FO pursuing him now than your or anyone else’s opinion of its merits.