There are a lot of rumors regarding DeMar DeRozan‘s future with the Bulls, but he’s not listening to any of them, writes Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times. His agent is trying to work out a contract extension and DeRozan’s name has been included in trade chatter, but he’s keeping his focus entirely on what he needs to do on the court.
“This is work time,” DeRozan said. “I don’t want to hear [bleep], to be honest with you. I’ve been with my agent [Aaron Goodwin] my whole career, and him knowing me like he does, people around me know how I am when it comes down to that kind of stuff. Same thing with family stuff back home. If it isn’t an emergency or something serious, I don’t want to hear about it, I don’t need to know about it.”
A source tells Cowley that negotiations on a new contract are currently stalled, which lines up with a recent report that the sides are “far apart.” President of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas is talking to teams that call about DeRozan’s availability, Cowley adds, but he’s not making an effort to trade the veteran forward. Cowley states that Karnisovas’ preference is still to find a taker for Zach LaVine and then assess the remaining roster in hopes of making other deals before the February 8 deadline.
“I understand what comes with having a rough season or rumors, and that speculation is going to come up everywhere,” DeRozan said. “It comes with this profession. Same with my contract. I’ve never demanded or stated, made accusations, ‘I want this, I need this, I deserve this.’ I just go out and play and let the chips fall where they fall. Tend to my teammates and be the best version of myself that I can be. Like I said, the best thing for me is to have that mentality of ‘Don’t bother me, time to go to work.’”
There’s more on the Bulls:
- Friday marked the unofficial start of NBA trading season, but Chicago doesn’t appear to be close to making any deals, Cowley adds. “I have not heard anything from Arturas regarding any of our players at all,” coach Billy Donovan said. “Obviously, as you move closer to February, the trade deadline and those types of things, there’ll probably be conversations. Everything has been about how can we help this group get better, improve.”
- Patrick Williams officially met the starter criteria by being in the starting lineup for tonight’s game at Miami, giving him an average of 41 starts over the last two seasons, tweets Bobby Marks of ESPN. That means Williams will be eligible for a $12,973,527 qualifying offer next summer instead of $7,744,601, and the Bulls can make him a restricted free agent by tendering the QO.
- Alex Caruso is sitting out tonight’s game with a sprained left ankle, but it’s not expected to be a long-term concern, according to K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago (Twitter link). “Hopefully a few days clears it up. We don’t anticipate him missing any major time,” Donovan said.
Caruso and Derozan to the Lakers
And Drummond
bojan would be my target for the lakers.
It makes sense that the Bulls have prioritized the LaVine trade over others. The team has honestly looked decent with him out, but they can’t trade him as things stand currently between his injury and how weak the team has looked with him on the floor. They need to evaluate their team both as it stands and moving forward. P-Will, Dosunmu, and especially Coby White have looked good in those games. DeRozan has played his role well, and Vuc has looked good. Caruso is Caruso. These next few weeks will determine how things go for this team.
LaVine signing was a mistake but the Bulls will get out of it.
The team plays a lot better without him and even when he comes back he should be regulated as the Sixth Man and not brought back as a starter.
Getting in front of this.
No.
DDR has also said he wants to stay in Chicago. I’m also quite sure that he wants to stay in Chicago without LaVine. His game would be that much better. I’m pretty sure the Bulls would be better off with DDR than LaVine. The Bulls have some nice support pieces but they need a PF and some draft picks. What they don’t need is another SF that can’t shoot. AK seems to collect them. Demar is a great team guy and LaVine is in it for LaVine. He finally got a sucker to pay him and now they have to figure out how to get rid of him. It’s not gonna be easy. My faith in Donovan has waned lately also. He keeps playing the same guys with the same results. He’s going to get Caruso hurt by playing him against PF’s because they don’t have one. Trade LaVine, Trade Williams, Trade either Terry or Phillips they’re the same guy and Williams will never be what they want. Stevie Wonder could have seen that by now. Donovan is not as good as they think he he is.
Bulls can’t trade LaVine now. He needs to play and increase his value. Maybe by TD. Most likely by next yr. LaVine is more a pure scorer. This kind of player needs a real PG on the floor.
Ask yourself where are the Bulls going the next three yrs???? Donovan is not a top coach. Not a good choice for a rebuild or retool. DeM is 34 yrs old. Why would you want him in Chicago. Time is now to cash in on DeM. He can bring back good value.
The whole equation has changed for the Bulls now. This is Coby White’s team now. He is young, and is currently proving that you can put the ball in his hands, and you can win. He is a legit scorer from behind the three-point arc right now. He is also a threat to go for double-digit assists on a nightly basis. All the while rebounding well at a well above average level for his position.
For whatever reason, White and LaVine both played poorly paired together. Bulls can be patient with LaVine, and let him rebuild his value. His production doesn’t have to fall just because Coby White is now the lead offensive decision-maker.
Coby White is not the guy you want to be your PG with the game on the line. Yeah I know he’s improved his ball handling immensely and even his defense but with the game on the line he still makes bad decisions with the ball and the pace of the game when it’s needed. He’s still really a SG but LaVine is in the way. White was horrible when the Bulls drafted him and I thought he was a waste but he’s worked his a** off and is now a valuable player and a keeper. But with 2 minutes left in the game he’s not the guy I want running the show. And Al the Bulls should trade LaVine for anything they can get. It’s addition by subtraction because White and DDR suffer when he’s out there.
Coby is not a true PG imo. He’s gotten better, I only see a third guard. He’s more a scorer. Can’t run a team or manage a gm. You don’t trade a 25 pt scorer cause you don’t like him. LaVine has plenty of value. You wait it out. Like the Bulls don’t have to wait lol.
All they got is time now. Cause this needs to be redone or blown up. You don’t just give away assets. You do this right. There is no quick fix ……
DeM >>>> to NYK ……….
watwewaatin4 ……..
Bulls management are clueless…
I can’t see how it’s more advantageous to trade Lavine than Derozan.