DeMar DeRozan will not return to Chicago this fall.
According to a report from ESPN, the veteran will travel to Sacramento to join the Kings and ink a deal with the Bulls, ending his three-year run as a major catalyst in Chicago.
This is the latest major step toward a serious rebuild for the Bulls, breaking up the center trio that has defined the roster’s focus for the past three years. The Bulls have lost the heartbeat of their locker room in the process, as the team embraces a rebuilding process around younger players.
In addition to two second-round picks and cash considerations, the Bulls also receive fourth-year shooting guard Chris Duarte in the trade. Duarte averaged 3.9 points, 1.8 rebounds and 0.7 assists in 12.2 minutes per game for the Kings last year. He’s a career 34.7% shooter from behind the arc. Duarte began his career with the Indiana Pacers after being selected No. 13 overall in the 2021 draft. This season is the final year of his rookie contract.
The San Antonio Spurs, another former team of DeRozan, facilitated the three-way deal, receiving Harrison Barnes and the final two years of his salary (estimated at an annual average of $18 million), allowing the Kings to accommodate DeRozan under the salary cap.
According to ESPN, DeRozan’s new contract is a three-year deal worth more than $70 million.
After joining the Bulls in 2021 via a sign-and-trade deal with the San Antonio Spurs, DeRozan has been a key part of the “big three” at the heart of the Bulls roster over the past three seasons, alongside Zach LaVine and Nikola Vučević.
DeRozan enjoyed a career renaissance in Chicago, earning back-to-back All-Star selections in 2022 and 2023 after a three-year absence during his time with the Spurs. The first few months of his rookie year with the Bulls showed promise as he provided balance to LaVine’s high-flying shots.
Despite a slight drop in scoring last season, DeRozan averaged 25.5 points and 5.1 assists over his three seasons in Chicago.
The Bulls decided not to trade DeRozan during the season despite his contract expiring and no extension being reached before the trade deadline.
Letting DeRozan go also meant letting go of a central pillar of identity that has defined the Bulls roster for the past three seasons. The veteran was instrumental in dominating the locker room and setting a standard among his Bulls teammates, hosting younger players for workouts in Los Angeles each summer and providing the mentorship that has been essential to building every success the Bulls have experienced over the past three years.
Without DeRozan at the helm, the Bulls will rely on young leaders like Coby White to lead the way next season.