Members of the Los Angeles Clippers front office were reportedly on their way to meet with star DeMar DeRozan shortly before he signed with the Chicago Bulls.
“The Clippers brass were driving, they were on their way to DeMar’s house,” said Chris Haynes on a recent episode of his podcast. “Things got a little bit more interesting with the Bulls, and DeMar DeRozan’s agent, Aaron Goodwin, called, it looked like it was going to get done. It looked like the deal was going to get done with Chicago. He called the Clippers out of courtesy and was like, ‘You know what, let’s not waste anybody’s time. Out of respect for you guys, let’s cancel this meeting. He’s going to go elsewhere.'”
DeRozan would have been a major addition to a Clippers team that might need one more piece to get over the hump.
In the 2020-21 season, he averaged 21.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 6.9 assists per game. He shot the ball at a 49.5 percent clip from the field. The 31-year-old is very quietly still producing at a high rate these days, though he doesn’t usually get the attention he used to.
The former first-round pick is a four-time All-Star. The Bulls will be the third team of his NBA career, as he has also spent time with the Toronto Raptors and San Antonio Spurs.
The Clippers’ top offseason priority now is to re-sign superstar Kawhi Leonard. He is expected to return to the team, but a deal has not been reached yet.
As for the Bulls, DeRozan will slide in as a key piece to a team that has completely revamped its roster this offseason. The 2021-22 season figures to be an exciting one for Chicago.
