With DeMar DeRozan now looking to depart from the rebuilding Chicago Bulls, multiple contenders have expressed in signing or trading for the 34-year-old. A six-time All-Star and three-time All-NBA selection, he’s now the most accomplished free agent available. Coming off of a season in which he averaged 24.0 points per game on 48.0 percent shooting from the field, those teams will be hoping that he continues to extend his prime.
As of today, the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, and Sacramento Kings have been linked to DeRozan this offseason. Each of those franchises hopes to win a championship DeRozan in tow. Of course, DeRozan wouldn’t have to be the top option for any of them.
The Lakers have LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The Clippers have Kawhi Leonard and James Harden. Sacramento’s offensive scheme revolves around De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis. Meanwhile, Miami hasn’t budged off of Jimmy Butler just yet, and Bam Adebayo may still be able to reach another level offensively.
However, the organizations with title aspirations aren’t the only ways dialing DeRozan’s number.
Spurs Spurred to Complete DeMar DeRozan Sign-And-Trade?
The San Antonio Spurs are “also now another possibility,” says Miami Herald reporter Barry Jackson.
Kings have talked to Bulls about DeRozan sign and trade, per source. Spurs also now another possibility. Despite DeRozan interest in Miami, Heat not in position to give him what he’s seeking at this time… Heat will hope opportunity on some player it wants arises this summer.
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) July 4, 2024
Jackson’s input is particularly notable as he’s long been a Heat insider. It’s even more significant because DeRozan has genuine interest in playing for Miami. Indeed, The Athletic’s Jovan Buha —a Lakers insider —reports that the Heat are “currently viewed as slight favorites” in the DeRozan sweepstakes.
Yet, the Heat are “not in position to give him what he’s seeking at this time…,” per Jackson.
DeRozan’s contract demands aren’t exactly clear, but he appears to want well above the even the full mid-level exception ($12.9 million). As of now, the Heat can only offer DeRozan the $5.2 million taxpayer’s mid-level exception. There’s been “some talk” about a double sign-and-trade that would send Caleb Martin to Chicago, per Yahoo Sports insider Jake Fischer. Nonetheless, there’s no firm sense of whether of not the parties involved would execute the trade.
This leaves open the possibility that DeRozan reunites with Gregg Popovich in San Antonio. If he does, it’ll accelerate the franchise’s rebuild, with Victor Wembanyama, Chris Paul, and Devin Vassell their key players heading into next season. As the Spurs still have $16.2 million in projected cap space, they may be able sign DeRozan outright if they trade a player to offset his salary demands.
With this in mind, Keldon Johnson and Zach Collins’s contracts become trade assets. Collins may have a particular appeal to the Bulls, who are looking to replace Nikola Vucevic with a more athletic center. The 26-year-old has two years and $34.8 million remaining on his contract. If the Spurs can get away with sending Chicago nothing more than one or two second round picks, even better.
The Last Word on DeMar DeRozan to the Spurs
While the Spurs will be led by Wembanyama statistically, DeRozan and Paul offer the veteran know-how that will make them the real leaders of the team.
On the court, Paul’s playmaking and DeRozan’s scoring instincts will heat up their anemic offense. There are defensive concerns that come with adding two older players, but Wembanyama’s defensive upside is so great that teams won’t be breaking down the door to get into the paint. In essence, DeRozan and Paul will scratch Wembanyama’s back while he scratches theirs.
