Report: DeMar DeRozan, Bulls Never Got Close To Extension

According to NBA reporter Jamal Collier of ESPN, DeMar DeRozan and the Chicago Bulls never got close to an extension. 

DeRozan joined the Sacramento Kings via a sign-and-trade deal. 

DeRozan appeared in 79 games for the Bulls in 2023-24. The USC product averaged 24.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.6 blocks while shooting 48.0% from the floor, 33.3% from beyond the arc and 85.3% from the free-throw line.  

A future Hall of Famer, DeRozan has career averages of 21.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.3 blocks with the Toronto Raptors, San Antonio Spurs and Bulls. He’s made three All-NBA teams and six All-Star teams. 

The Kings now have a “Big 3” of DeRozan, De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis. Fox played a major role in DeRozan coming to Sacramento, per NBA insider Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report. 

“I love DeMar. He was terrific for our organization the last three years,” Bulls general manager Marc Eversley said. “But I don’t think we were in a position to deliver what he was looking for going forward. He wants to win. He deserves an opportunity to win at a really high level. And arguably, we’re not in that situation right now. As much as it hurt to let him go, I’m extremely happy for him.”

The Bulls are rebuilding after missing the playoffs again in 2024. They traded Alex Caruso to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Josh Giddey and let Andre Drummond leave in free agency for the Philadelphia 76ers. 

Chicago wants to trade Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic next, but both All-Stars don’t have much trade value around the NBA. 

“The difference is we’re much younger,” Eversley said. “Not that it’s not about Zach or [Vucevic] anymore, but we’re giving these young guys an opportunity to see how much they can grow.

“We’re not so focused on being a top-six seed or being in the play-in. We’re focusing on developing this group every single day and see how much better they can get over the next year.”