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DeMar DeRozan Reaffirms His Allegiance to the Bulls

Originally posted on On Tap Sports Net | By Matt Berklan | Last updated 5/16/24

When Zach LaVine suffered a season-ending injury during the 2023-24 campaign, DeMar DeRozan became the new primary scorer among the Chicago Bulls' core. While the Bulls' season ended with another play-in loss, DeRozan frequently poured in the points — especially in clutch time.

But with the 34-year-old's contract expiring, is he worth bringing back?

The Bulls will likely look to move LaVine this offseason or by next season's trade deadline, making DeRozan’s situation the focal point of Chicago's offseason.

According to Michael Scotto of Hoops Hype, the pulse around the NBA indicates the Bulls front office will “ultimately resign him [DeRozan]” this summer. DeRozan added credence to that notion as he stated he wants to remain in Chicago.

"The city is great, I love the city, the organization been great—it's definitely a place I would love to return to, and take care of unfinished business," DeRozan said on the “Run It Back” podcast.

.@DeMar_DeRozan wants to stay in Chicago

"The city is great, I love the city, the organization been great—it's definitely a place I would love to return to, and take care of unfinished business." #Bulls pic.twitter.com/OCT6fMJlMV
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) May 15, 2024

Father Time hasn't caught DeRozan yet as he averaged 24 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game this past season. All of those numbers are well above his career averages. If DeRozan can maintain that level of production at the right price, the Bulls can contend for a playoff spot.

However, they'll have to move LaVine — and potentially others — to clear salary cap space for quality players to surround DeRozan if they have championship aspirations. Trade rumors have swirled around LaVine for some time, but unloading his max contract is easier said than done. It's a challenging task for Arturas Karnisovas, who has acknowledged that "this group hasn't worked" regarding the Bulls' roster construction.

Regardless of what happens this offseason, DeRozan is beloved by the city. His crunch-time prowess brought excitement nightly despite the Bulls being mired in mediocrity for most of his tenure in Chicago.

Trade rumors have linked DeRozan to various title contenders over the past two seasons, but he's ultimately remained with the Bulls. Loyalty is an attribute that Chicago loves, and DeRozan's commitment to the Bulls has never been in question.

This article first appeared on On Tap Sports Net and was syndicated with permission.

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