Bulls Reportedly Offered DeMar DeRozan a Massive 2-Year Deal

The 34-year-old is coming off a three-year, $81 million deal, from which the Bulls extracted maximum value. Reports during the season indicated that DeRozan would be in the market for a near-max deal this summer.

The problem is the Bulls' two-time All-Star will turn 35 this year. Offering him a four-year deal at the max rate would be totally ignoring Father Time.

This reported two-year offer would give DeRozan near-max-level pay but keep the Bulls in check if he declines off his career averages. DeRozan led the Bulls with 24.0 points and 5.3 assists per game in 2023-24.

However, Coby White made massive strides and appears to be the piece the Bulls should build around as opposed to the aging DeRozan. White's contract is up in two years, so the reported two-year offer to DeRozan would set the Bulls up for the power shift to White.

Bulls' vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas said in his end-of-season press conference that the team's play-in loss is unacceptable, adding that the goal is to bring a championship to Chicago.

If that's truly the case, continuity can't be the approach to next season, but the logistics are tricky. It seems Zach LaVine wants to be traded but has no market. Additionally, center Nikola Vucevic signed an extension last offseason. These circumstances make DeRozan a prime candidate to depart Chicago if the Bulls are serious about shaking up the roster, which will require salary-cap flexibility.

Whether or not DeRozan returns to the Bulls next season remains to be seen. His strong play over three seasons in Chicago makes him deserving of the money he's asking, the NBA free-agent market will ultimately dictate the term he receives.