DeMar DeRozan Rumors: NBA Insiders Question SF's Future With Bulls After Caruso Trade

After the Chicago Bulls traded Alex Caruso to the Oklahoma City Thunder in return for Josh Giddey, NBA insiders are questioning whether star forward DeMar DeRozan will remain with the team in free agency this offseason.

"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?" NBA insider March Stein wrote. "Likewise: Will DeRozan even want to return to the Bulls?"

DeRozan, 35, will be a free agent this offseason after three seasons in Chicago. In May, it was reported DeRozan was expected to re-sign with the Bulls, but the trade for Giddey could have impacted his original plans.

The Bulls, who made their first trade since August 2021 when they dealt Caruso, seem to be leaning towards a rebuild after acquiring Giddey. They sacrificed one of the best perimeter defenders in the league for a younger, less defensively inclined player of the same position.

The move didn't make Chicago better in the short term, but it could pay off if Giddey pans out the way the team hopes he will.

It's not clear whether the Bulls are fully leaning into a rebuild just yet, but it leaves DeRozan with a tough decision to make this summer.

On the one hand, he could stay in Chicago and remain the team's star veteran as they navigate a rebuild. On the other hand, he could depart for a team ready to compete for a championship now. It's hard to imagine DeRozan, who will be 35 at the start of the 2024-25 season, is willing to wait out a rebuild at this stage in his career.

DeRozan averaged 24 points, 5.3 assists and 4.3 rebounds for the Bulls last season and could be of great use to a team looking to add another piece to compete for the Finals. The Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat are just a few teams that could benefit from a player like DeRozan.

Unless Chicago makes a drastic move this offseason that shows it is ready to compete for a championship now, DeRozan might likely head elsewhere in free agency in search of his first ring.