DeMar DeRozan Splitting From the Bulls Now Seems Inevitable
![Apr 1, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan (11) looks to pass the ball against the Atlanta Hawks during the first half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports Apr 1, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan (11) looks to pass the ball against the Atlanta Hawks during the first half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_5377,h_3024,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/258/01j1d9gbyy4tcmx3as94.jpg)
The Chicago Bulls have a long road ahead of them. They've failed to make the playoffs in six of the last seven years and are seemingly headed toward a complete rebuild.
On June 20, the Bulls started their roster shuffle when they traded Alex Caruso to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for guard Josh Giddey.
They were able to add another young force on night one of the 2024 NBA Draft. Matas Buzelis was selected with the 11th overall pick and that was a homecoming for him as he was born in the Windy City.
After the NBA Draft wraps up on June 27, the focus will then shift to free agency but the latest report revealed that DeMar DeRozan's tenure with the Bulls could be coming to an end.
There’s growing buzz that DeMar DeRozan will leave the Bulls in free agency, per @KCJHoop (https://t.co/CB6gelsh11).
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) June 27, 2024
Chicago appears to be prioritizing a youth movement in 2025. pic.twitter.com/ndULZpiYnT
Bulls News: Buzz Is That Demar Derozan Will Leave in Free Agency
After trading for Giddey and taking Buzelis in the draft, it appears the Bulls are going with the youth movement. With that looking like the plan, it seems that DeRozan will be playing basketball in a different jersey for the 2024-25 season.
"The Bulls are open for business. And with growing buzz that DeMar DeRozan will be elsewhere next season, either via a sign-or-trade or simply walking in unrestricted free agency, the buzzword is no longer competitiveness."
- K.C. Johnson
This news goes hand in hand with the reporting of Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. He outlined that the Los Angeles Clippers could become a suitor for DeRozan in a sign-and-trade if they fail to retain Paul George.
Another reason the Bulls could be moving on from DeRozan is their need for a bad season. Chicago needs to have a bottom 10 record next season to keep the protected first-round pick they owe the San Antonio Spurs from the sign-and-trade for DeRozan back in 2021.
The six-time All-Star was in the Windy City for three seasons but only made the postseason once. Now it seems their time together is coming to an end.
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