Bulls News

The report insists trading DeMar DeRozan is key

"The Bulls are not good enough to watch one of the few assets they have walk away without getting anything of value in return."
Stephen Beslic|
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Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bulls’ decision-makers must let go of the notion that this current iteration of the team can make noise in the much-improved Eastern Conference. The Bulls hold a 24-27 record, good for ninth place in the Eastern Conference, five games away from an outright spot in the NBA Playoffs.

While the Bulls can continue to walk on this path and reach the first round of the postseason, what then? A first-round exit is likely the ceiling for this team. The front office must think long-term and make bold moves to improve the roster.

One potential move heavily discussed is trading away All-Star guard DeMar DeRozan, who has been a solid contributor for the Bulls, averaging 22.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game this season.

As the trade deadline approaches, many experts and analysts are calling for the Bulls to explore trading DeRozan to receive valuable assets in return. The logic behind this argument is simple: the Bulls need more young talent and draft picks to build a stronger foundation for their squad.

Trading DeRozan is a start

While the Bulls front office is likely considering retooling the roster, Chicago needs a complete teardown. All-Star Zach LaVine is virtually untradeable due to his foot injury, which leaves DeRozan as one of the team’s best trade chips. Though Deebo is already 34, he remains a reliable scorer who’s not fazed by big-time moments late in games.

“The Bulls are in need of a complete rebuild, and it starts by trading DeRozan,” Erik Beaston wrote on Bleacher Report.

“It is not difficult to see why playoff contenders would be interested in acquiring a player who can come in, contribute offensively, and help them improve their chances of competing for an NBA title.”

Can’t let DeRozan walk away for nothing

Although Deebo’s representatives and the Bulls have had initial discussions regarding a contract extension, nothing has been finalized. And with DeRozan set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, the Bulls face a tough decision.

On the one hand, retaining DeRozan would give them a proven veteran presence and consistent scoring threat. On the other hand, trading him could bring in valuable assets that could help expedite their rebuilding process. Plus, with the Bulls currently sitting outside of playoff contention, it may be wiser to focus on building for the future rather than holding onto an aging star.

“The Bulls are not good enough to watch one of the few assets they have walk away without getting anything of value in return for him,” Beaston continued. “Trading DeRozan, getting a haul of players and/or picks in return, and using them to re-establish the foundation of the team, is the right move for the Bulls.”

“Otherwise, DeRozan walks, and the team could watch him win a championship with another organization, knowing full well they acted detrimentally to the team and received nothing for him when they could have, further enhancing the difficulty of another rebuild attempt.”

Chicago Bulls finally rebuild with this audacious trade idea

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Stephen Beslic
STEPHEN BESLIC

Stephen Beslic is a writer on Sports Illustrated's FanNation Network. Stephen played basketball from the age of 10 and graduated from Faculty of Economic and Business in Zagreb, Croatia, majoring in Marketing.

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