The Chicago Bulls could be “done” with the DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Nikola Vucevic partnership. Sam Smith of Bulls.com said he heard from an insider at the NBA Draft Combine that Chicago could end its Big Three this summer.
“I was at the Draft Combine this week and heard from an insider that he believes the Bulls are done with this Big Three,” Smith wrote. “But I did hear it from him outside, so there could be a credibility issue given that. Sources who may or may not know agreed. Of course, such an observation doesn’t need Sherlock Holmes.
“Vucevic is a free agent, DeRozan is going into his last contract season and LaVine has some huge financial seasons ahead. That one of them would not return can come from both informed and uninformed sources. Though watch that space. I expect a change in that core.”
The Bulls regressed this season. After making the playoffs in 2022 for the first time since 2017, Chicago missed the postseason despite having DeRozan, LaVine, and Vucevic. The Bulls won 40 games in the regular season to clinch a play-in spot. They beat the Toronto Raptors on the road in the 9-10 play-in game behind 39 points from LaVine and 23 from DeRozan.
However, Chicago lost to the Miami Heat in South Beach in the 8-9 play-in game, which ended its season.
Vucevic becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer and DeRozan has one year left on his contract. Meanwhile, LaVine signed a lucrative five-year, $215.2 million deal with the Bulls last summer. He’s eligible to be traded this offseason after being ineligible for most of the 2022-23 season.
The Bulls acquired Vucevic from the Orlando Magic in March 2021. The two-time All-Star is averaging 18.2 points and 11.1 rebounds since coming to Chicago.
DeRozan, who will likely be in the Hall of Fame one day, signed with the Bulls in the summer of 2021 via a sign-and-trade deal with the San Antonio Spurs. The six-time All-Star is averaging 26.2 points with Chicago.
The Bulls traded Jimmy Butler to the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2017 for LaVine, Kris Dunn, and Lauri Markkanen. LaVine, who is a two-time All-Star and two-time Slam Dunk Champion, is averaging 24.5 points since the trade.
Source: nbaanalysis.net
