Forward DeMar DeRozan spent the last three seasons playing the “King of the Fourth” role to perfection.
Whether it was a ridiculous corner three at the horn or his lethal midrange game when a big shot was needed, he bailed his teammates out of sticky situations time and time again.
But it appears that DeRozan’s Bulls-saving days are over.
A source told the Sun-Times late Sunday night that the Alex Caruso-Josh Giddey trade was the final straw. DeRozan, 34, will use his free agency to head elsewhere.
It’s really no surprise to either side after the Bulls’ season ended in a play-in loss to the Heat, but the door initially remained wide open for weeks.
After several coaching changes as well as some other behind-the-scenes personnel decisions, however, DeRozan was quickly having second thoughts.
When Caruso, a high-IQ player and great teammate, was shipped out for Giddey, DeRozan realized he was not in the Bulls’ plans, and he really no longer wanted to be.
Where DeRozan ends up and at what price was unknown as of Monday, but once he finds a new home, it will close a chapter in Bulls history that had great moments but underwhelming results.
DeRozan played some of the best basketball of his career with the Bulls, emerging as a mentor for many of the younger players, but he only led the team to one playoff appearance, a first-round exit against the Bucks in 2021-22. Still, throughout last season, DeRozan and the Bulls wanted to get a deal done.
DeRozan now has to turn his focus to finding a new team. The Lakers are one possible destination.
Meanwhile, the Bulls will continue pushing a youth movement The latest part of that push came Monday, when it was confirmed that they signed center Jalen Smith to a three-year, $27 million deal.
So for now, Smith, 24, will serve as Nikola Vucevic’s backup.
In just over a week, executive vice president Arturas Karnisovas has acquired Giddey, 21, drafted Matas Buzelis, 19, re-signed Patrick Williams, 22, to a five-year deal and swapped out the role that Andre Drummond, 30, held for the last few years by adding Smith.
Last season with the Pacers, Smith averaged 9.9 points and 5.5 rebounds and shot 42.4% from three-point range.
That kind of versatility will allow coach Billy Donovan to play small ball when needed.
But the unknown that still hangs over the Bulls like a dark cloud is what to do with Zach LaVine? The relationship between player and organization is all but shattered, so bringing him back would be the worst-case scenario. On the other hand, the organization doesn’t want to just hit the self-destruct button and have to attach first-round picks to move LaVine.
That would run counter to the immediate push to go young. Draft assets are coveted now instead of being thrown around like Monopoly money the way they were in building this core in the first place.
Keeping LaVine also would hinder the development of Giddey and Coby White, the starting backcourt of the future, unless the idea would be to start all three and simply mix and match defensive assignments based on the opposing personnel.
Either way, LaVine and the Bulls seem to be headed for something ugly.