Bulls Reportedly Ready to Make Disastrous DeMar DeRozan Mistake

The Chicago Bulls have not won a playoff series since 2015 and have made the postseason twice in the last nine seasons. They have been the epitome of mediocrity over that span. However, they seem intent on maintaining their status as the ultimate eighth-seed chaser rather than rebuilding for the future.

The latest reporting out of Chicago will frustrate Bulls fans for that reason. According to Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic, the Bulls are ready to break the bank for DeMar DeRozan this summer to keep him in Chicago.

Mayberry reports that the Bulls are willing to pay DeRozan over $40 million per year. They are negotiating on the duration of the contract as they are reportedly pushing for a shorter deal while the 34-year-old is understandably pushing for a longer contract.

"The Bulls would be happy to re-sign DeRozan on a two-year deal...The dollar amount will be hefty, likely north of $40 million annually, but is less significant to the Bulls’ long-term flexibility. Chicago wants to keep DeRozan but at a reasonable commitment"

- Darnell Mayberry, The Athletic

Regardless of the duration of the final agreement, paying DeRozan over $40 million is a ridiculous mistake to make.

Let's be clear: DeRozan is a very good basketball player. He has been Chicago's best player since he arrived in 2021.

But, he is not worth $40 million at this stage of his career, especially for this team.

The Bulls are nowhere near a playoff contender. The ceiling for this team is the eighth-seed. DeRozan is aging and therefore will be declining. He didn't make the All-Star team last year and is unlikely to make one going forward. He is an elite scorer who doesn't do much else, especially on the defensive end. Having DeRozan as your best player caps your team's ceiling in a significant way.

Plus, this team is already about to pay the combination of Zach LaVine, Nikola Vucevic, and Lonzo Ball $85 million for the 2024-25 season. Adding DeRozan there means you are locking yourself for perpetual mediocrity.

Seemingly everyone but this front office understands that it is time for a rebuild in Chicago. The obviously smart thing to do is to move on from the veterans for whatever future assets you can get for them, build around Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, and Patrick Williams, and acquire more draft capital. But, Bulls fans unfortunately understand that the obviously smart thing to do isn't what this ownership is about.

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