The Chicago Bulls are grappling with the impending departure of DeMar DeRozan, a situation reminiscent of past missteps in player management.
The team is attempting to leverage this departure to secure some form of compensation, rather than letting another key player leave without any return, as has happened before.
Historically, the Bulls have struggled with retaining players until their trade value diminishes.
For example, Zach LaVine’s prolonged tenure with the Bulls led to his value dropping, and the team could not capitalize on his trade worth. Now, LaVine’s potential suitors are nonexistent, and his relationship with the Bulls has become strained.
Similarly, Alex Caruso’s time in Chicago represents another case of asset mismanagement.
Despite having trade offers that included multiple first-round picks before last season’s deadline, the Bulls chose to keep Caruso. Consequently, they ended up trading him later without gaining any draft assets.
The mismanagement extended to Andre Drummond, who also left the Bulls this summer for the Philadelphia 76ers. Despite trade offers from Philadelphia earlier, the Bulls did not act, and Drummond departed as a free agent.
Now, DeRozan appears to be the next potential exit from the Bulls.
Although he has indicated he will not re-sign with Chicago, the team is exploring sign-and-trade opportunities to gain some value in return.
Recent reports suggest that DeRozan, seeking a contract worth $25 million annually, is attracting interest from the Sacramento Kings.
The Bulls are open to facilitating a sign-and-trade but are hesitant to take on additional contracts. This constraint might require involving a third team to make the trade feasible, with potential partners like the Kings and Utah Jazz already being discussed.
In summary, the Chicago Bulls face a crucial decision regarding DeRozan’s future. Their history of holding onto players too long and then failing to extract value from their departure has left them in a precarious position.
As they navigate these waters, the Bulls are actively seeking trade scenarios that could yield some return for DeRozan, aiming to avoid repeating past mistakes and ensuring they do not lose another asset without compensation.
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