Predicting where the NBA's top 20 free agents will play in 2024–25
By Dalton Sell
9. DeMar DeRozan - Chicago Bulls
Rather than shaking up the roster, the Chicago Bulls will likely aim to run it back next season with the same core components. To do that, they will have to re-sign DeMar DeRozan, a six-time All-Star, two with Chicago, to a new deal. Given their commitment to contending, it feels like they may be willing to spend big money to keep the veteran forward happy in the Windy City.
The Athletic's Darnell Mayberry (Subscription required) recently floated the idea that the Bulls could offer DeRozan north of $40 million annually in free agency. Offering him a significant amount of cash like that would certainly be one way to get him to sign a new deal swiftly. At 34, he's not going to get that type of dollar amount from any other team, no matter how much cap space they have to utilize.
A lot of people would argue that paying DeRozan over $40 million per year would be nothing short of a sizeable overpay. Even though he's still an excellent player, that may be true. Yet, in today's NBA, you pay up when you want to keep star players in town. If the Bulls want to make a run at the playoffs in 2024-25, keeping DeMar DeRozan is likely their best bet.