Report: DeMar DeRozan Leaving Bulls, Won’t Pick New Team For A While

According to NBA insider Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report, DeMar DeRozan is leaving the Chicago Bulls. 

However, DeRozan won’t pick a new team for a while since he doesn’t want to play for the mid-level exception, which is around $12 and $13 million per season. 

The Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat are interested in DeRozan. 

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. 

If the Lakers don’t get DeRozan, LeBron James will sign a max extension with them. The leading scorer in NBA history is willing to take a pay cut for Los Angeles to get DeRozan. 

The Heat don’t have money to sign DeRozan outright. They’re in the same boat as the Lakers. They would need to acquire DeRozan via a sign-and-trade deal since DeRozan doesn’t want to take a pay cut. 

The Bulls missed the playoffs in 2024, the Heat lost to the Boston Celtics in the first round in five games and the Lakers lost to the Denver Nuggets in five games. 

Los Angeles fired Darvin Ham and hired former NBA guard JJ Redick.