DeMar DeRozan is still performing at a near NBA All-Star level after 15 seasons in the league. The veteran wing had an excellent three seasons with the Chicago Bulls, scoring a ton of points, producing plenty of great moments when it mattered, and rarely losing the ball. Now, DeRozan is an unrestricted free agent shy of his 35th birthday, and he's on the hunt for a new team as the Bulls look to pivot towards a long-awaited rebuild. There's just one problem: With most of the free agent talent already drafted, there doesn't seem to be a player who can fit DeRozan at a salary bracket that matches his talents.
Despite DeRozan being the best unsigned player currently in the NBA, there doesn't appear to be a market for him, and according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, DeRozan may be open to accepting a one-year deal in the summer of 2025 to earn more money.
“The kind of contract (DeRozan) wants is not available,” Woj reported on SportsCenter. “It's not like there isn't one left on the market. It might not be as attractive for him, but it could be a one-year deal somewhere. Let's reset the market next year.”
.FollowThe latest on DeMar DeRozan is that it could be a one-year deal due to the limited market for his desired salary.
– The Bulls are willing to work out a sign-and-trade with DeRozan, but aren't particularly interested in a multi-year deal.
– The Lakers… pic.twitter.com/j7sILxWMY0
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) July 2, 2024
Woj mentioned the Los Angeles Lakers as a team that could be interested in DeRozan, but only at the right cost. The most the Lakers could offer would be $12.8 million, the mid-level exception. Even then, LeBron James might have to take a bargain. It would be a big pay cut for a player who has clearly made more than $27 million in average salary over the past three seasons, but it might be the best offer he could make.
DeRozan is a talented player, but a tough one to fit into an existing team structure because he needs the ball to perform at his best. With the ball in his hands, DeRozan is a master at getting to his spots, knocking down mid-range shots, and taking tons of free throws. At the same time, he demands a role so close to the ball that he would have to be an absolute superstar to drive a team's success. DeRozan is very good, but right now he's not on the same level as Luka Doncic or even a prime James Harden.
As a lead player, DeRozan is good but not good enough, and as a supporting player, he lacks two key ingredients every good role player needs: spot-up shooting and defense.
DeRozan entered the league in 2009, right before the NBA's three-point shooting boom. It's amazing how well he's performed in this era, when he barely mastered the shot. DeRozan has shot 29.6% from three-point range on just 1.6 attempts per game for his career. He did a little better with Chicago, shooting 33.8% from three-point range on 1.9 attempts per game over three seasons. At the end of the day, he's still not a willing or able shooter in the half-court that defenses will trick him into paying the price.
DeRozan isn't very good defensively either, often having to shadow the opposing team's weakest offensive player, struggling to avoid screens, slow rotations and not putting up much resistance.
Despite his limitations, there's a world of room for both sides on the court if DeRozan joins the Lakers. LeBron James is getting ready to turn 40 and still plays more on-ball, but James has also become a prodigious spot-up shooter late in his career. James attempted 2.6 catch-and-shoot 3-pointers per game last season and made 47.3% of them, according to NBA tracking data. When James is tired, DeRozan can cook and LeBron can spread the floor.
The Lakers need to add talent at all costs in an improving Western Conference. This team has won 47 games but only won one playoff game last year. He may not be the perfect player, but acquiring DeRozan at this point in the offseason would be a smart move, especially if he can be acquired at a discount.
