Bulls wing DeMar DeRozan considers his latest All-Star appearance, his fifth overall and first since 2018, to be his favorite All-Star selection thus far, per Rob Schaefer of NBC Sports Chicago.
“It’s hard to go against the first time I was here [in 2014 while with the Raptors],” DeRozan said. “But to be here again after everything I went through, it’s sweet.”
DeRozan is in the midst of possibly his best NBA season yet, his 13th in the league. In 55 games for the 38-21 Bulls, the 32-year-old out of USC is averaging 28.1 PPG (his highest scoring average ever, fifth in the NBA this year), 5.2 RPG, and 5.1 APG, with a shooting line of .517/.343/.866.
“Over the span of my career I did a lot of learning, personally, on the court, outside the court,” the 6’6″ Bulls swingman said. “Just trying to understand a lot of dynamics of just being a man first. And a lot of that, looking in the mirror moments and understanding a lot of things is this moment now, of just me being in my complete balance.”
DeRozan also leads the NBA in fourth-quarter scoring with 443 points and counting. Schaefer writes that DeRozan is posting a clutch-time shooting line of .541/.667/.902. The Bulls are currently the second seed in the Eastern Conference, with DeRozan leading the way. He has a strong case to be a top-five MVP candidate this season.
There’s more out of the Central Division:
- Several current All-Stars heaped praise on new Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, writes James Boyd of the Indianapolis Star. Haliburton, who participated in the All-Star weekend festivities during the Rising Stars contest and the Clutch Challenge this year, hopes to return to a future All-Star weekend for the main event. “That’s the goal,” Haliburton said of playing in the All-Star game. “Don’t know when, but eventually I’ll be back, and I’m looking forward to it.” Bulls All-Star guard Zach LaVine spoke about how Haliburton can benefit from his fresh start in Indiana. “Tyrese is off the charts, and him getting a different opportunity now in Indiana I think is gonna be big for him,” LaVine said. “Obviously getting traded and me being traded young as well [from the Timberwolves to the Bulls], you have to take it one way or another… You’re a little shell-shocked at first, but once you embrace that opportunity and go after it, I think he’s gonna be great.”
- Pacers backup point guard T.J. McConnell appears likely to miss the rest of of the 2021/22 season, per Scott Agness of Fieldhouse Files. Given the original timeline projected for the 6’1″ veteran’s recovery from a December surgery for a torn scapholunate ligament in his right wrist, this news is not entirely unexpected. McConnell has appeared in just 24 contests this year. McConnell, 29, has averaged 8.7 PPG, 5.0 APG and 1.1 SPG while shooting 50.3% from the field and 80% from the free throw line.
- Provided that the Cavaliers are able to retain their core of power forward Evan Mobley and All-Stars Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen, Jason Lloyd of The Athletic suggests that Cleveland should do its darnedest to add 11-year Cavaliers veteran LeBron James, who would reach free agency in 2023, at age 38, if he doesn’t sign an extension before then. During an active 2022 All-Star weekend in Cleveland, James went out of his way to praise the team-building work of team president Koby Altman. “I think Koby and those guys have done an unbelievable job drafting and making trades,” James told Lloyd. “The door’s not closed on [the prospect of James making yet another Cleveland return].” The Cavaliers could conceivably carve out cap space during the 2023 offseason in part by moving off the $17.3MM salary owed forward Lauri Markkanen and perhaps by picking up and then offloading the $8.9MM team option of wing Isaac Okoro.
Was DeRozan against coming to NY or did the Knicks make a mistake signing Fournier instead?
I believe it was because the knicks wouldn’t match the bulls offer. He preferred the lakers and knicks, but the bulls, thankfully, showed the most respect and coin
Knicks made a mistake signing Fournier to that deal regardless
Neither. Like most UFAs that aren’t max players (or minimum players), DDR was interested in any team that might pay him the most. Knicks (smartly) had no interest in DDR at the minimum parameters he set (namely, at least 3 years guaranteed), so he moved on to the suitors that were. Nobody knows what would have happened if we pursued him. Certainly not an idiot like Berman.
That’s the reality of almost every FA contract decision (that’s not max or minimum). Players are businessmen, first, and are pursuing money and years, first (years for a guy DDR’s age are paramount). Only when those are even, do other factors come into play. The only location preference that DDR expressed was his hometown (LA), but he also made clear, only if they could offer market.
Smartly and missing the playoffs once again
Cleveland needs their head examined if they take on BRON BRON. How many GM’s do they need? Especially one who is in way over his head like BRON BRON. Someone needs to tell him his time of demanding is OVER
@Yep
im confused, what demands has LBJ made that WASN’T in the best interest of the team? He knows what kind of players they need to win and he did so, amazingly fast, in bringing a chip to Miami, Cleveland and LA. In the cases of Miami and Cleveland what significant rookie or pic was given up other than Wiggins for Love. Look how long it took Wiggins to develop to the player he is now? Would he have won a chip with the Cavs with the core of Himself, Kyrie, Dion Waiters and Tristan? If one player was most destructive to the Cavs it was Irving. Who by the way, demanded a trade devastated the championship team. Who knows how long they could’ve been successfull.
Great teams have to rebuild. Look at the Spurs, fantastic organization that have sucked recently and are in the middle of a rebuild.
Not even a LBJ fanboy but you guys kill this guy like he’s some sort of evil. You focus on future draft picks and salary cap and forget the futility suffered the 3 years prior.
If LBJ were to come I can almost PROMISE YOU it would be to JOIN pieces like Garland and Sexton (both Klutch members) along with likely Allen and Mobley. The Westbrook was a desperation move. I PROMISE you he thought Westbrook was young enough and strong enough to remove a large portion of the burden OFF of his older body.
I’d have to really see how things would work but I could see LBJ 3.0 being something like…
Garland/Sexton/LBJ/Allen/Mobley
Bring in the some depth pieces. Move the contracts of Love, Markkanen, Osman and Okoro. I don’t think he would stunt anyone’s development tho. Not sure if I would love the LBJ/Bronny dynamic tho.
The Cavs would be legit contenders for a long time, for his one or two seasons then after as Mobley, Sexton, Allen and Garland would make an amazing core as they hit their prime with the knowledge and the will to win that LeBron passed on.
@knicks in case you missed Lebron was a big reason the lakers traded away all their young talent to acquire the Russell Westbrook. We all see how great that’s worked out for GM James
Edit on second take I see you barely mention it. Westbrook was a negative player before the lakers acquired him so that was a really big reach if Lebron really thought Westbrook could help lead the team
@Eric
The Lakers records prior to and thru the year before they acquired AD.
2016/17= 26-56, 14th
2017/18= 35-47, 11th
2018/19= 37-45, 10th
(LBJs 1st year. injured, wasted year)
2019/20= 52-19 1st place, championship (1st year with AD)
2020-2021= 42-30, 7th place. LBJ and AD injured most of the season.
What were those great players traded away for Westbrook?
Kuzma
KCP
Montrezl Harrell
Isaiah Jackson
??????
Kuzma was not doing ANYTHING in LA and those others were rotation pieces at best. As draft capital the Lakers actually received three 2nd round picks in the deal. Now Westbrook was a bad fit and has tied up the cap space but please stop anything as if they decimated their team to get him. Kuzma, slightly blossomed, away from the bright lights and more demanding market. Who cares???
They won a champion. Injuries and a desperate move to get better have detailed efforts but the organization is not lousy.
@knicks hey man love the reply. Thanks for not giving me a” Ur dumb Westbrook is great answer”. My argument wasn’t about the lakers future by any means just simply that GM James made a terrible move by trading away their depth for a negative player in Westbrook. I’m a rockets fan GM harden did the same exact thing even worse though with all those picks and swaps the rockets gave up
At least you get that all stars do it if they can, not just LJ. Miles ahead.
But Westbrook is not someone LJ would go for. Hield (dog who makes his shots) & Bagley (someone he could improve with the right leadership) are. But neither of these would gain prestige for Pelinka among GMs; Westy would. A third star for cheap wow! LJ aims for two stars and already had his other, AD. (Irving was just a bad-team future star when LJ retuned to CLE… the deal with Gilbert was contigent on KLove.)
Like everyone was a fan of Kuzma.
DeMar never wanted NY. That’s a made up line. Agents use NY to up the ante. Media uses NY to get readership. Every star FA is suppose to go to Knicks. Why ??
Knicks are rebuilding. Why would he come here. And who wants a 32 yr old when you are rebuilding.
Why would he pick Knicks over Bulls.
They have his college center in Vucevic. They have a young star in LaVine. They have a real PG in Ball. Plus young talent on bench. Then we wonder why Knicks don’t rebuild.
link to sportscasting.com
Exactly. NY wasn’t going to be a good fit. Agents just use this stuff to build leverage and drive up the deal. Every team is “interested” depending on who you ask.
sure let’s trust Al and Lil D, anonymous commenters know better
That’s not a denial.
Meanwhile in the summer Al was power ranking the Knicks higher than the Bulls despite them rebuilding and the bulls having a young star (although at the time he wasn’t that good based on Al’s expert view), a real PG and young talent on the bench (strangely our biggest vulnerability during the summer)
And some people are really considering him better tha sillivan…smh
LeBron needs to give Lakers 2 options
1 Use future picks to fix current roster
2,Trade LeBron to Cavs
Why 76ers dump free draft picks not Lakers
3) dump Russ and AD in favor of a whole bunch of 3 and D guys. Problem solved. Bron gets another chip
Give me an example of deals that would make this happen. Please just one example of an AD trade and a Westbrook trade that combined not only makes them a legit contender, but a lock for another chip. I’ve got all night
AD… even with his health issues probably brings back a decent amount. The question is who? Beal? What other big names are even available? John collins? I agree with you completely the current laker team even in nba2k has no chance to win a ring. 2 years when Westbrook is gone all bets are off with it being la and having Magic’s money
From the reporters
Westbrook is still here in summer, and he and the Lakers are going to have to figure out how to make the Lakers better for the next several years.
Please, no LBJ back in CLE. I have been a die hard CLE everything fan and winning the Championship playing LeBron ball was at times painful. I like the guy, but what comes with him was too much. There is no way I want his imprint on the current hard working, team first style we are running. Unless he’s ready to stop making demands, (doesn’t seem likely considering he’s making statements he wants to play with his son) stop requiring coaches he can coach, and the whole LeBron James (every position) garbage. I get it he is versatile, but our team is so critical in players buying into their roles. Kevin Love and Cedi Osman being two great examples. Just no thanks. I love watching him play. Just not on my team.
If I’m the Cavs, I’m doing just fine without LeBron. If he wants to come back to Cleveland then he can take less money to fit into THEIR budget, not the other way around.
LeBron needs a good team, and a younger talented cast around him like the Cavs. They don’t need him to remain a contender.
Idk, if I’m Cleveland, I’m likely against it anyways. I wouldn’t want to disrupt the entire team chemistry by bringing in LeBron.
If they want to add a significant piece they have Sexton and picks to dangle as trade bait. They need to add to their core, and build around their core.
They need to empower their younger stars like Garland, Okoro, and especially Mobley. Build the team around their strengths and weaknesses moving forward. Don’t take a big step backwards putting everything aside to let LeBron run the show..
” just fine” today turns into pitchforks and torches 3~4 yrs later if a banner doesn’t get raised
If LeBrons maintaining this production 17 months from now ( and is gettable for Cle) you take him 8 days a week
They will have top of the Hill as well with leverage on off court/all matters really with a 38 yr old LBJ.
How they chose to use it is on them ……but it seems pretty simple in my eyes……… it is to be proposed as an opportunity (a very good one at that) TO LeBron not an overt aggressive courtship ////A take it or leave it sorta deal where the “take” doesn’t need to be sold or greased up because it’s turnkey ready
Sexton (sign and trade), Markeneen, Okoro and 2 first round picks for LBJ and Nunn
Cavs
1. Garland. Rondo
2. LeVert. Nunn. Windler
3. LBJ. Osman
4. Mobley. Love. Wade
5. Allen. Davis
Lakers
1. Russ. Sexton.
2. Monk. THT.
3. Okoro. Ariza/Johnson
4. Melo. Markeneen.
5. AD. Howard.
Cavs go all in on the title and in fairness would be a very strong contender. You’d have good defence, lots of good passers and ball handlers, some shooting, good depth and great mix of experience and youth. Get a couple guys in FA and the draft and your set.
Lakers would be moving off an old LBJ and starting to rebuild and look to the future again. They get their Russ replacement in Sexton with Monk and THT at SG, Okoro SF, AD at the 4 and needing a young 5. Plus you have Markeneen as a stretch big. Russ will come off the books shortly. Plus you get two additional first round picks.
Another nice post that’s actually something highly tangible –
Agree if Lebron wants to go that’s close to the package that will happen. Lakers probably keep Nunn for salary purposes and maybe net a swap as well but those are the players thad go
Id just wait tho if I was Cle a year and get the Wal-Mart special on LBJ instead. But if Cle wants to get the party started this proposal has some good nuts and bolts
As a Laker fan Im all for whatever LBJ wants as long as he gives the front office a distant heads up so we don’t have to work in the dark.
OBV I’d love to see LBJ retire a Laker but Cle is probably a better spot for him personally for 2023 24 25..??…. etc .
Wouldn’t surprise me if he was dawning a Cle jersey opening night next year one bit tho. Most Lakers fans would salute him for his great services to the org , oddly the other 29 teams fanbases would be the ones crapping their pants in anger and spillin hate
@Simmons
Neither LBJ nor the Cavs want to do anything to lessen the talent base in Cleveland. He’s never demanded to be traded and in THIS situation he’s coming back BECAUSE of the talent they have. If he comes back he does so as a free agent straight up or sign and trade involving guys like Cedi, Markkanen, etc. Interestingly, both Garland and Sexton are Klutch clients.
Yeah I did think Sexton being a Klutch client would be the odd part.
I just thought Sexton having basically been out all year and the Cavs preforming so well without him they would like to use his value and contract in brining over LBJ. Cavs are going to have to give up something for LBJ if they want him and it’ll have to be up to the lakers liking. Sexton Markeneen and Okoro plus some firsts isn’t a hell of a lot to give up especially if you can get Nunn aswell. Way I see it Nunn is a cheap knock off version of Sexton and then it’s sad to see Okoro go but it is what it is. He’s hardly developed a shot at all and yes he does defend well I think it’s hard to imagine him turning into a 15 points per game guy.
@Simmons
Like I said, if the Cavs/LBJ is going to happen it’ll likely be with him as a free agent. That way, no good talent has to leave aside from those needed to fit LBJ under cap if needed. He’s only under contract for 1 more season.
Your plan addresses one thing that I must comment has not been put out there… amazingly… when talking about players moving to Cleveland… a lot will not do it. The value of LJ is that he presumably would. That is why the Cavs will not shut the door on LJ returning. And the 3 job is open, unlike at the other LA team, mostly midsized.
A 5-yr max is a tough pill to swallow tho, and Gilbert would rather win without him.
Don’t think LBJ would want the 5 year max anyways. He said he wants to play with his son once he enters the league.
Bronny can reclassify and be drafted into the NBA for the 2023/24 season, however it’s more likely he comes the following season.
I believe the most likely situation is as KnickfanCavsfan said it’s probably in FA after his current Lakers deal at which point a Bronny will also finish high school and likely go to college. I’m assuming Bronny heads to the east coast to go to college where most the big schools are. I can see LBJ signing a 1 year deal to follow him to the east, go back to the Cavs for 1 final season before joining up with his son.
At which point the Cavs will have KLove off the books and LeVert also hits FA. Markeneens deal for the following year isnt fully guaranteed and waiving him that offseason would open up another 12mil.
Could see the Cavs resigning LeVert and LBJ taking a discounted deal to join the Cavs. A lot will depend on what Sexton does. Maybe the resign him and the make the LBJ deal a sign and trade in the future.
Would be pretty cool to see Bron join the Cavs again at 39 with them having a strong side. Garland LeVert LBJ Mobley and Allen. Just one season to go for it and have some fun, real legendary stuff. Then at 40 play 1 final season wherever with his son
Cleveland and Lebron need to stay apart. He will be poison to this building team. They just need more reps. Rondo and Love are perfect vets for them. I think they can Make the ECF.
Not this season for the Cavs maybe semis if they’re lucky but a great improvement and foundation to build on.
what poison do you speak of? every ex teammate loves the guy and if the Cavs want him back thhem I guess he wasn’t that bad in their eyes either. This guy and Rich Paul get a lot of hate and I really question why? I mean you might not like the power he has but he’s not doing anything but trying to win at every stop he’s made.
The experts were saying in the summer Demar won’t do anything for the Bulls so the article is wrong, experts know best
Markkanen and LEVERT to free up cap space, not Okoro.