NBA insider K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago claims that DeMar DeRozan was extended a two-year contract by the Chicago Bulls.
If DeRozan doesn’t sign an agreement with the Bulls before free agency opens, he will be free to sign with any team this summer.
Johnson stated, “DeRozan’s representative was recently offered a two-year contract by the Bulls at a high annual salary, possibly as much as $40 million per season,” according to a source. “DeRozan is looking for a longer-term contract right now, but that’s just part of the talks.”
This season, DeRozan made 79 appearances with the Bulls. The six-time All-Star shot 48.0% from the field, 33.3% from beyond the arc, and 85.3% from the free-throw line while averaging 24.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 5.3 assists.
In the 9-10 play-in game, the Bulls defeated the Atlanta Hawks, but in the 8-9 play-in game, they were defeated by the Miami Heat.
Chicago has now missed two consecutive postseason seasons.
For the past three years, DeMar has been a terrific asset to the Bulls, according to Artūras Karnišovas, executive vice president of basketball operations. “He’s been incredibly kind to our young players and has a strong investment in the city of Chicago. Thus, all parties are eager to move on, and free agency will determine how things turn out.
August 2021 saw DeRozan sign a three-year, $85 million contract with the Bulls as a part of a sign-and-trade agreement with the Spurs of San Antonio.
According to insiders who spoke with Hoops Wire, the Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, and Philadelphia 76ers were considering trades for DeRozan this season. But DeRozan, who will attract interest if he enters unrestricted free agency this year, wasn’t being shopped by the Bulls.
With the Toronto Raptors, Spurs, and Bulls, DeRozan has averaged 21.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists over his career. Three All-NBA teams have included him.
In the lineup with DeRozan, the Bulls are 117–112. They qualified for the playoffs in 2022 but were eliminated in five games by the Milwaukee Bucks in the opening round.
