Although the Bulls and DeMar DeRozan have both publicly expressed interest in continuing their relationship, there’s not as much momentum toward a new deal for DeRozan as there was at this time last year for Nikola Vucevic, writes K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago. Vucevic ultimately ended up agreeing to an extension with the Bulls on June 28, two days before free agency began.
Johnson cautions that the situation could change quickly, noting that a new agreement between DeRozan and the Bulls remains very possible. However, Johnson wonders if the Josh Giddey/Alex Caruso trade will change the equation at all for the veteran forward. As comfortable as DeRozan is in Chicago, he also wants to win, and he was a big fan of Caruso, who seems better suited than Giddey to help a team contend in the immediate future.
Here are a few more notes and rumors on this offseason’s free agents:
- The Mavericks and Jazz are among the teams with free agent forward Tobias Harris on their radar, reports Ian Begley of SNY.tv. While Utah has plenty of cap flexibility, Dallas projects to be in luxury tax territory, so their path to adding Harris would be trickier unless they can shed some salary, get him to accept a below-market deal, or pull off a sign-and-trade (while remaining below the first tax apron).
- The Suns and Drew Eubanks haven’t closed the door on working out a new deal, even with the center turning down his 2024/25 player option, reports Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. Rankin cites mutual interest between the two sides, adding that Eubanks has been working out in Phoenix and has been in touch with new head coach Mike Budenholzer. However, he says the big man will test the free agent market.
- Former NBA lottery pick Frank Ntilikina has signed a contract with KK Partizan, the Serbian club announced in a press release. According to Fred Katz of The Athletic (Twitter link), the guard signed a two-year contract that includes an NBA out after the first season.
- The new contract that Mario Hezonja – another former NBA lottery pick – agreed to with Real Madrid also includes an NBA out, tweets Shams Charania of The Athletic. Hezonja has until July 19 to exercise that out clause for 2024/25, according to Charania, who hears from sources that the 29-year-old wing has drawn some interest from NBA teams.
- Nuggets wing Justin Holiday, who is on track for unrestricted free agency, has hired new representation. Octagon Basketball announced (via Twitter) that it has added Holiday to its roster of clients.
- John Hollinger of The Athletic shared his list of this summer’s top 25 free agents, while Keith Smith of Spotrac made his predictions for the player and team option decisions that must be made by June 29. Hollinger’s list, which uses his BORD$ formula, includes players like Saddiq Bey and Spencer Dinwiddie in the top 20, though Hollinger acknowledges that they’re unlikely to get the kind of salaries that BORD$ projects.
If every top 10 free agent stays with their teams, salary cap has little value
If you want to acquire a good player, you need to use your valuable assets such as young players and future picks
IMO
If you give DeRozan a $110 million huge contract he’ll stay in Chicago, he does not care if his teammate is Giddey or Caruso
Tobias makes sense for Utah.
Lauri and Tobias both decent defenders, nice scorers, both interchangeable at the forward spots.
With Hendricks the young back up 4, it would put John Collins on the trade block.
I would keep DeMar as the lone vet, especially since someone will need to score on that team once LaVine and, I can only presume, Vucevic are gone. White can’t do it all himself.
If DeMar was serious about winning, I don’t think he’d have considered returning in the first place. He can still be “the guy” for another year or two, then chase a ring as a 6th man with a different squad.
Giddey Demar Vuc might be the worst veteran lineup in league history, no 3’s no D, if you want to continue to develop Giddey you must add some actual shooters or teams will just sit in the lane and let Vuc shoot 24% from 3
The Bulls have no direction. They should have traded Caruso and DeRozan at the deadline. They have some decent young players too but awful management.
Yeah, if they don’t follow this trade up with a youth movement, it makes no sense.
Agreed. Doesn’t make sense to resign DeRozan. DeRozan will be 35 years old. Too old to give a large contract to for a team that is in the middle of the pack at best. It isn’t as if DeRozan is the player who puts the Bulls in title convention. Bulls need help in their interior, especially with Drummond gone.