2021 NBA free agency tracker: Grades for every deal so far
By Duncan Smith
DeMar DeRozan – 3 years, $85 million (Chicago Bulls)
The Chicago Bulls are building themselves quite the interesting team. After sign-and-trading for Lonzo Ball on Monday and signing Alex Caruso later in the evening, they added DeMar DeRozan via sign-and-trade from the San Antonio Spurs.
Apparently, the rumors that DeRozan would sign for the mid-level exception in the right situation were all for naught as he ended up getting one of the biggest deals of NBA free agency, signing a three-year deal worth $85 million. The Bulls didn’t just have to pay up in the form of salary, though, they also had to send out Thad Young and Al-Farouq Aminu in addition to a first-round pick and two second-round picks.
It’s a massive price to pay for a team where DeRozan’s fit is dubious. This deal may end up being favorable in the end, but in a team-friendly market, it’s hard to believe a better price couldn’t have been struck on the part of the Chicago Bulls.
Maybe it’s an overpay, but this is proof that the Bulls are serious about trying to compete next season, and they should be a whole lot better on the floor than they were last year.