Forward DeMar DeRozan, who is eligible for a veteran extension until June 30 before hitting unrestricted free agency, told K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago that he wants to sign an extension to remain with the Bulls.
“This is where I want to be,” DeRozan said. “ … I love ownership. I love everything about the city and the franchise, top to bottom—the front office, the staff we have. It’s one of those places that gives me motivation to see everybody get what they deserve and feel what winning is like again.”
DeRozan has stated multiple times throughout the season he wants to stay with Chicago, and the interest is reportedly mutual. But an agreement on a new deal has yet to be reached, leaving his future in doubt.
As Johnson writes, DeRozan has outplayed the three-year, $81.9MM contract he signed a few years ago when the Bulls acquired him in a sign-and-trade with the Spurs. The 34-year-old has averaged 25.4 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 5.1 APG and 1.0 SPG on .496/.331/.867 over the past three seasons, earning two All-Star nods and providing clutch shot-making while being very durable — he leads the league in total minutes and minutes per game (37.8) in 2023/24.
The Bulls have not found much team success over the past few years, however, particularly since January 2022, when Lonzo Ball‘s career was derailed by a series of knee surgeries. After being eliminated in a first-round playoff series with Milwaukee in 2022, Chicago lost to Miami in the play-in tournament last year, and is locked into another play-in berth in ’24. Injuries were a factor again this season, with Zach LaVine and Patrick Williams sidelined with season-ending foot surgeries.
DeRozan told Johnson he wants to help the Bulls find the success they had in the first portion of the ’21/22 season, when they were 27-13 before Ball was injured.
“The feeling, the vibe, the energy that was around when we had that run, I want the city and all these players to experience that again — and for myself too,” DeRozan said as part of a larger quote. “It’s always easy to complain and say what’s not. But I made it clear this is where I want to be. … I don’t want to go nowhere.
“They know it. Everybody knows my stance. I lay it down from this perspective: I want to come back. Everybody else figure out what you need to figure out. And that’s just how I look at it so I don’t stress or worry about what’s what. I made it clear this is where I want to be. The powers that be just need to figure out what needs to happen. Everybody knows my mindset.”
Don’t give 34 year old B level players max money. Better to lose a guy a year early than years late. Let someone else handcuff their organization.
I ain’t reading all that
Good for you tho
Or sorry that happened
Agreed, this is a growing trend with the traderumors websites, way too much information on every post. DeRozen hasn’t been relevant in years, yet his announcing he wants to stay with his current team, as virtually every athlete does, triggers pages of discussion about his past contracts and a bunch of other loosely-related information? If I wanted in-depth analysis I would go to a better source than the high school-freshmen-level writing staff of traderumors.
Who is forcing you to read these articles or this site at all? Also, calling DeRozan (maybe spell his name correctly if you’re going to blast others for their writing) irrelevant is simply inaccurate. He’s the best player on a big market team.
Highway Menace seriously? You’re going to visit a website scroll and click on an article and take a critical stance? Saying they’ve written too much LOL.
I’ve never really resonated with your posts and it was sort of a Vibe I got not necessarily your content, but now it’s crystal clear.
This particular article did not have a misleading title for clickbait. So you knew what it was about. I don’t understand your criticism and I don’t think it’s fair.
I find this website to be a great educational tool first and a nice cross between rotoworld
( informational ) and a hint of fangraphs (pre Meg) which was filled with great opined pieces / chats
Shame that peeps are missing the meat and potatoes on what this (free) website has to offer
2021 seems like forever ago. Retooling only works if a team has a competent front office and owner, otherwise rebuild and hope lightening strikes.
Until he gets paid and asks for a trade at some point.
That won’t happen. He doesn’t mind playing for a contender. Championships are not the end all goal for DeMar DeRozan.
In fact when he was traded from the Raptors and had been together with Kyle Lowry for what, 8 years, he was upset. Not realizing management desire to championship and even traded away a popular player to try to get there.
All that to say that I’m sure he’s perfectly happy in Chicago making his money and being at best, “contenders.”
Chicago aren’t contenders and that isn’t changing while DeRozen is playing for the bulls. I’d take the bet DeRozen will ask out before his new contract is done.
And yet he still wants to sign an extension knowing full well their future may or may not be bright in addition to the team being mediocre currently. Doesn’t exactly sound like a dude itching to bolt.
That last paragraph says it all. DeRozan doesn’t give a flip about a championship and what it takes to get there. Essentially, It’s not my concern and you worry about us getting there. Not me.
He’s happy being the main guy on a good team and making a truckload of money and getting his 25.
I didn’t interpret it that way. He clearly values being in a city he likes and being with an organization that he’s been building a relationship with. People tend to essentialize players’ FA decisions but I wouldn’t disregard motivations like teammate chemistry and not wanting to uproot his family again.
Just because bulls aren’t a contender right now doesn’t mean he doesn’t care about winning. How many guys in this league have the patience to try to build something instead of jumping ship to the easiest opportunity? Demar still has enough years left to go ring chase in a couple years if he wants. I respect him for his commitment.
You make a lot of great points. I’m being overly critical of DeRozan because it seems like he has so much talent but he’s just a guy.
He’s an All-Star, he gets 25 a night, he’s respected around the league, but as you say, he doesn’t want to uproot his family, he likes the city he’s working in, he enjoys his teammates and the staff on the Bulls, things like that.
Well, that’s fine and dandy and his commitment is commendable. But I take it a little further and I’m not sure if it’s right or not, but THE RING IS THE THING. But kudos to your post. I would say your opinion is probably more popular.
I hear you regarding, as a fan, wanting players to go for a ring. But like I said he will still have a chance to get a ring later even if he resigns (albeit no longer as a star most likely). But we can ultimately agree to disagree. I appreciate you being classy about our differing perspectives
Frankly, I kind it slightly refreshing he isn’t pivoting immediately to ring chasing like so many others who get up there in years. Not that that’s a bad thing either, but what he values more is a little different. Him doing him is the most important thing onviously.
And there’s still time for ring chasing later, of course. But seeing as how he’s still very productive right now (at least offensively), I get it.
I watched him from the day he was drafted in Toronto. Has always been an overrated player. Tons of empty stats – and never anything close to a winning player
Of course, it goes without saying, but he said it. Newsworthy? No, but this isn’t a news site, it’s a rumors site. Newsworthy would be him saying:
“I want out of CHI. My reason is that _____________ (doesn’t matter what). It’s so important to me to be elsewhere that I’m willing to take whatever the free agent market offers up (knowing there are few teams having cap space and only slightly more that are permitted to do S&T’s) vs the painless re-upping of my deal in CHI for more $$ and years than even the most motivated free agent buyer can offer. Of course, I realize I could just take the better deal from CHI and then ask for (demand) a trade to one of my top destination choices. I’m not stupid. I just prefer playing under contracts for less money and fewer years, it builds character.”
Never been a winning player. Just lots of empty stats.
Just no.
Move Pat Williams to SF and get a true PF instead.
Play White, Ayo, and Williams, and let dear play in L.A. .
Enjoy more mediocrity DeMar, I can completely understand why you would want to re-sign with a team that will win 35-40 games every year.
If the Bulls sign DeRozan to a new contract, the Bulls will have very little cap room to sign anyone else. If the Bulls are only a 500 team at best now, then it doesn’t make sense to give a large three year contract to a thirty five year old player. Don’t get me wrong, like DeRozan a lot. The Bulls have overachieved this season.
Also, having DeRozan conflicts with giving Patrick Williams the space to show what his potential is or isn’t. Unless the Bulls make a miraculous run in the playoffs, then best to not sign DeRozan and look to the future.
They’ll have zero cap neways either way