Report: Lakers Pursuing DeMar DeRozan, Discussing Trades With Blazers, Nets, Jazz

According to NBA insider Jovan Buha of The Athletic, the Los Angeles Lakers are pursuing DeMar DeRozan, who is an unrestricted free agent and won’t return to the Chicago Bulls.

The Lakers could either sign DeRozan outright or acquire him via a sign-and-trade deal with the Bulls. 

“After missing out on Klay Thompson, the Lakers quickly turned their attention to another James target: free-agent wing DeMar DeRozan,” Buha wrote. “Similar to Thompson, DeRozan, 34, is both a potential non-taxpayer midlevel exception candidate and a sign-and-trade candidate for Los Angeles, according to league sources. He is another player whom LeBron James would be willing to take less for, league sources confirmed and ESPN first reported.”

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 3 and 85.3% from the free-throw line.  

DeRozan signed a three-year, $85 million contract with the Bulls in August 2021 as part of a sign-and-trade deal with the San Antonio Spurs. 

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, Spurs and Bulls. He’s made three All-NBA teams and six All-Star teams. 

DeRozan, who was born and raised in Compton, California, almost joined the Lakers in 2021 before LAL acquired Russell Westbrook from the Washington Wizards. 

Buha also reported that the Lakers, who hired JJ Redick as their new head coach, are discussing trades with the Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz and Brooklyn Nets. 

“They have been active in recent days, discussing potential deals with Portland, Brooklyn and Utah, among other teams, according to league and team sources,” Buha wrote. “Vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka tends to operate in the shadows — more so this summer than ever, according to league sources. It’s certainly possible he has a contingency plan that saves the offseason.”

The Lakers lost to the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the 2024 playoffs in five games.

Denver also beat LA in the 2023 Western Conference Finals in four games.