The trade market hasn’t been moving as quickly as fans would have liked. We are still waiting to see where James Harden and Damian Lillard end up while also waiting for any shock moves like Pascal Siakam being traded away. The offseason is still in its early stages, so a lot more moves are being discussed but not materializing.
DeMar DeRozan is a player that might just be on the market. The Bulls forward is heading into his third season with the team and is on an expiring contract this season. With the competitive prospects looking bleak in Chicago, it’s unlikely DDR re-signs unless the Bulls throw him a big contract that he wouldn’t get on the market. Instead of being in that position next offseason, trading DeRozan away puts that burden on someone else, and we know just the team who will be willing to partake in this.
Trade Details
Chicago Bulls receive: Tim Hardaway Jr., Josh Green, 2028 First-Round Pick Swap
Dallas Mavericks receive: DeMar DeRozan
Losing Josh Green in this trade will be massive for the Mavericks, but when you can upgrade to a player like DeRozan, you do it without hesitation. With the lack of first-round picks in the Mavs’ arsenal, using Green as a high-potential future asset to protect pick equity has to be done.
The Bulls Start Embracing An Inevitable Rebuild
What do the Bulls think their big three of Zach LaVine, Nikola Vucevic, and DeRozan will achieve? The ceiling on their success is pretty low, with a second-round playoff appearance their best-case scenario after a perfect season. That is not something worth fighting for. Trading DeRozan away is the first step in that process, as his contract has to be moved before the over-the-cap Bulls lose him for nothing and can’t even sign a replacement.
Getting a young swingman like Josh Green would be incredible for the Bulls. Though he had a limited role on the Mavs last season, averaging 9.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.7 assists, he showed a lot of promise later in the season. He is just 22 years old and could be a role player in a winning situation or a player that is slowly developing into one of the leading options on a team. He doesn’t project to be someone who can be the No. 1 option, but he can develop into a very high-quality and talented role player.
If the Bulls don’t want to pull the plug with a Zach LaVine trade, Tim Hardaway Jr. may just help their win-now prospects with his scoring versatility. He averaged 14.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.8 assists last season and can be a much better floor spacer for the Bulls than DeRozan was. The Bulls could easily turn THJ into a different asset, given playoff teams value his ability to be a spark-plug scorer.
The Mavericks Go All-In On Their Offense
Offense wins you games but defense wins you championships. It looks like the Mavs are ready to put their offensive theory to the test by having one of the best scoring trios outside of Phoenix. DeRozan is a versatile scorer and is arguably the best mid-range scorer in the league. With him and Kyrie Irving killing it in the mid-range, it gives Luka Doncic more room to attack the rim to create shots for his teammates. He can also start playing more off-ball and use his shooting skills to add more spacing to this lineup.
DeRozan averaged 24.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 5.1 assists last season and had some really impressive moments throughout the year. Unfortunately, the Bulls weren’t remotely good enough to be in the mix for even a top-eight seed. They made it to the final game of the play-in tournament, but that did seem like the best they could’ve done last season. The Mavs didn’t even make the play-in, so adding a talent like DeRozan will basically ensure they can be a top-six seed in the extremely challenging Western Conference.
Losing Josh and THJ will be tough for the franchise, given their chemistry with Luka that has developed over the years. The team has already gotten rid of many players. Luka had strong relations for the pursuit of making this team better, and trading for DeRozan will fit perfectly within those plans. Dallas will need to make additional moves to shore up their defense by adding a starting big or a backup defense-oriented wing. Maybe adding JaVale McGee to this deal gets the Bulls to give Dallas either Andre Drummond or Torrey Craig to address another team need.
Both Teams Start Solidifying Their Future Directions
This trade will give Dallas two unique opportunities. First, they make a cheap win-now move on an asset that is questionable for the Bulls. Losing DeRozan for nothing is far worse than getting THJ and the upside of Josh Green. The receiving players can allow the Bulls to start the season with a win-now mindset but with added flexibility if they need to switch courses throughout the season. Trading Tim can get them value while Green can be extended and figure into the team’s future plans, whether or not they keep Zach LaVine around.
The Mavericks essentially get to dump some salary in this trade, especially if McGee ends up being a part of it. Dallas plans on waiving the center anyway, so getting one large expiring contract like DeRozan’s gives the Mavs more clarity for next season. Without Hardaway Jr.’s money and no extension needed for Green, the Mavs will have some money to play around with if they tried. Given the cap situation they’re in with the contracts for Luka and Kyrie, it won’t be a lot of money, but it could be enough to make a small difference.
The challenge in this situation is significant for both franchises, but if they can agree upon a deal, there could be positives emerging for both the Bulls and the Mavericks.
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