Report: Lakers, DeMar DeRozan Have ‘Had Conversations’

According to NBA insider Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report, the Los Angeles Lakers and DeMar DeRozan have “had conversations.”

DeRozan is an unrestricted free agent. The veteran will not return to the Chicago Bulls. 

“There have been conversations between the Lakers and DeMar, gauging interest,” Haynes said. “There’s no substance that says that anything is absolute or anything is concrete. Just that they’ve had some conversations, feeling out.”

According to NBA insider Brian Windhorst of ESPN, LeBron James would take a pay cut for the Lakers to sign DeRozan. LeBron, DeRozan and Anthony Davis are friends. 

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. 

LeBron, 39, has declined his 2024-25 player option with the Lakers worth $51.4 million. He will re-sign with LA and is open to taking a discount if the franchise can get an impact player. 

LeBron averaged 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 8.3 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.5 blocks for the Lakers in 2023-24 in 71 games while shooting 54.0% from the floor, 41.0% from 3 and 75.0% from the free-throw line.

The Lakers lost to the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the 2024 playoffs in five games. Denver also beat Los Angeles in the 2023 Western Conference Finals. 

The leading scorer in NBA history, LeBron joined the Lakers in 2018. He and Davis helped the franchise win the 2020 championship at the Walt Disney World bubble.