(670 The Score) The Bulls could soon pull off a surprise as free agency continues.
Chicago is pursuing wing DeMar DeRozan, according to multiple reports Tuesday afternoon. The Bulls have been in search of another wing, and they have big man Lauri Markkanen to dangle in a potential sign-and-trade deal with the Spurs, for whom DeRozan has played the past three seasons. The restricted free agent Markkanen has been a priority target for the Spurs in free agency, according to veteran NBA reporter Marc Stein.
The Bulls have competition for DeRozan, who's set to meet Tuesday with the Los Angeles Clippers, Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports reported. The Heat have also previously expressed interest in DeRozan, Stein reported.
DeRozan, 31, averaged 21.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 6.9 assists while serving as a centerpiece for the Spurs’ offense last season, when he shot 49.5% overall and 25.7% on 3-pointers. DeRozan is a low-volume 3-point shooting who largely does his work in the mid-range game, attempting just 0.5 3-pointers per game in 2019-’20 and 1.2 from long range last season. He’s good at getting to the rim and creating contact, having averaged 7.2 free-throw attempts last season.
DeRozan is a four-time All-Star – most recently in 2017-’18 – who has averaged 20.1 points per game across his 12-year NBA career, the first nine of which were spent in Toronto before he was traded to San Antonio as part of the package that sent star forward Kawhi Leonard to the Raptors.
The Bulls already had a busy Monday, agreeing to deals with guard Lonzo Ball (four years, $85 million) and guard Alex Caruso (four years, $37 million).
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