NBA trade, free agency rumor roundup: Does Caruso’s trade mean DeRozan will leave Bulls as free agent?

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Since the NBA Finals ended, teams have been allowed to negotiate with their own free agents and extension-eligible players. Free agency opens in just over a week, and negotiations between teams and other players can formally begin. (Informally, negotiations are already well underway through back channels, tampering is the lifeblood of the NBA this time of year.)

Here’s an update on some of the latest free-agent rumors.

• Could DeMar DeRozan bolt Chicago in free agency? The Bulls traded Alex Caruso to the Thunder, bringing back another playmaker in Josh Giddey to take his place. Chicago is focused on trying to trade Zach LaVine. With all of that, does DeMar DeRozan want to return to Chicago? That’s a big question in league circles, Marc Stein wrote in his Saturday newsletter.

“One of the loudest questions bouncing around the league at the minute is thus: Will DeRozan be more available in free agency than expected now once the marketplace officially opens on June 30 at 6 PM ET? Likewise: Will DeRozan even want to return to the Bulls?”

Both DeRozan and the Bulls have said publicly they want their relationship to continue, but as K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago put it, “Last year at this time, there was more momentum for Nikola Vucevic to re-sign in this exclusive negotiation period before free agency begins than there is currently for DeRozan.”

DeRozan, 35, averaged 24 points and 5.3 assists a game last season, he’s a midrange assassin who could help a playoff or contending team like Philadelphia in the right role. If he is available, there will be suitors.

• The Bulls are again finding the LaVine trade market lukewarm. The Bulls and Zach LaVine are on the same page: It’s time to part ways. Chicago looked for a deal at the trade deadline but nothing materialized. Now heading into the peak of the offseason… the market is still pretty lukewarm. The Philadelphia 76ers and Utah Jazz, two rumored targets for LaVine, “do not much interest” Stein reported.

The leading candidate for a LaVine trade is the Sacramento Kings. Sacramento has been dangling Harrison Barnes and Kevin…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/nba-trade-free-agency-rumor-231814747.html

Author : NBC Sports

Publish date : 2024-06-22 23:18:14

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