Official: DeRozan! Player of the Week p69

[erlim]

This off season is way nuttier than I thought it would be for us.

[Leslie Forman]

Six months ago, I didn't want Nikola Vucevic. Six months ago, I didn't want Lonzo Ball. Six months ago, I didn't want Demar Derozan.

Now they're all here on big contracts and three first rounders gone. Well…at least I can't say Karnisovas isn't trying stuff, unlike last summer.

[DJhitek]

Not a fan at all, I don’t think DeRozan moves the needle offensively (not a huge floor spacer) and not even close to impacting the floor defensively.

I will say, it makes the Bulls more interesting.

[jacoby1us]

AK IS NOT FOR THE GAMES.

TAKE YOUR TANKING AND FIRST ROUND PICKS AND GTFOH.

I am totally onboard with this front office direction!

[Michael Jackson]

Nice improvement from the last years. Since 2015 we never felt we had a chance of doing a good season (conference semi-finals) but now we can.

I won't say contender. DeRozan not being our #1 guy is good but he is also not the best version of him. Hopefully he will provide the veteran leadership we need. At least we can't complain about things staying the same

If you think about it the Nets are the only clear favorites in the East. The next 3-4 teams imo are even and bulls are now part of that list.

you think the bulls are as good as the bucks now?

Or the Heat, Hawks, Philly?

Better than the Knicks, Pacers and Raptors. Likely even with the Celts. Punchers chance team. In no way are they better than the Bucks in my book. I’d like them to prove me wrong though.

[bearadonisdna]

Love this move, lonzo,is the head scratcher for me

[WindyCityBorn]

Not a fan at all, I don’t think DeRozan moves the needle offensively (not a huge floor spacer) and not even close to impacting the floor defensively.

I will say, it makes the Bulls more interesting.

7 asts and 7 ftas. One of most efficiency slashers in the league. I would say all of that helps our offense. We have plenty of guys that can shoot 3s.

[TyrusRose2425]

Nick Friedell being Nick Friedell says he doesn't like then move and that the Bulls aren't a top 4 team with the roster. He says that they aren't better than the Knicks or Hawks

A lot comes down to health IMO. Lonzo isn’t the most healthy guy out there and Coby is already out a few months.

To me the East is:

1A

Nets

1B

76ers
Bucks

2

Heat
Celtics
Bulls
Hawks

Knicks might rank better in regular season but they’ll be another first round exit. General health will matter for the Tier 2 teams. Tier 1B is a Giannis or Embiid injury away from dropping whereas Nets can stomach an injury to their big 3.

[Ctownbulls]

Listen, I am historically extremely negative on the Bulls and their decisions. I see a lot of the same posters who were always negative continuing that mantra. If you are hating right now you are simply hating for the sake of hating. The Bulls have four very solid players and their 4th best player might be the best 4th player on any team in the league. The Bulls are fun again, will be competitive and have attractive contracts that other teams will want. Look at the hauls Westbrook or CP3 got when originally they were deemed "untradable" contracts. If this doesn't make you trust the front office and the direction in general then I don't know what to say to you. If this team doesn't work I have faith that these guys can rework and always stay relevant / in the mix. Isn't that what the Heat have done for the last 15 years? Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't --- but they are always in the game.

[WindyCityBorn]

Love this move, lonzo,is the head scratcher for me

Defense, 3 point shooting, size, passing, youth. It’s no head scratcher. We are going for win now with Derozan and Vuc while also developing PWill and Ball for the future m. Zach is only 26 so he is obviously perfect for the future and now. And we aren’t done yet.

[Michael Jackson]

Six months ago, I didn't want Nikola Vucevic. Six months ago, I didn't want Lonzo Ball. Six months ago, I didn't want Demar Derozan.

Now they're all here on big contracts and three first rounders gone. Well…at least I can't say Karnisovas isn't trying stuff, unlike last summer.

I am not a fan particularly of any of the acquisitions myself. I would have never targeted those guys myself. Maybe Ball because of fit. That being said the collective of players aren’t on the worst contracts and the talent floor has been raised. Let’s see if this mish mash can play together. We have some depth now but Vuc hasn’t panned out yet to a positive on a small sample size, let’s see what this squad looks like after a training camp. Considering options available it wasn’t the worst play… better than sitting on the hands GarPax woukd do (or they woukd strike out on waiting for Kawhi and max Ball out and call it a year)

[Michael Jackson]

They gave up the 8th overall pick for Vucevic, did you forget that?

Who never will be as good as Vuc.

Not saying it was the wrong move. Only time will tell. But acquiring a player in his 30s making a lot of money for the 8th overall pick is the definition of mortgaging the future. It could be well worth it! But that's just what I'm getting at.

He isn’t making a lot of money though that’s the saving grace on Vuc. He is pretty low risk. I really didn’t want the #8 type pick again, I’d take the one in the hand with that. No Vuc and Zach walks… I am not a Vuc fan but I understand the logic behind it.

[RSP83]

You guys realize that Derozan is one of the worst playoff performers of all time, correct?

And the sample size is quite large.

21 ppg, 4.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists in 10 playoff series... Going to go out on a limb and say that is not one of the worst playoff performers of all time.

Well, this Bulls team is not only Derozan. We won't be leaning on Derozan as much as Raptors did. We're upgrading talents right now (massively), and let the ball roll for now. I'm surprised we still get to keep Lauri.

[DJhitek]

Not a fan at all, I don’t think DeRozan moves the needle offensively (not a huge floor spacer) and not even close to impacting the floor defensively.

I will say, it makes the Bulls more interesting.

7 asts and 7 ftas. One of most efficiency slashers in the league. I would say all of that helps our offense. We have plenty of guys that can shoot 3s.

Again, his work will be in the same area where Vuc will want to operate and you are paying him to score. He is the quintessential, “needs the ball to score effectively”. Let’s not get into his lack of defensive, well anything.

[WindyCityBorn]

Not a fan at all, I don’t think DeRozan moves the needle offensively (not a huge floor spacer) and not even close to impacting the floor defensively.

I will say, it makes the Bulls more interesting.

7 asts and 7 ftas. One of most efficiency slashers in the league. I would say all of that helps our offense. We have plenty of guys that can shoot 3s.

Again, his work will be in the same area where Vuc will want to operate and you are paying him to score. He is the quintessential, “needs the ball to score effectively”. Let’s not get into his lack of defensive, well anything.

Vuc can score from anywhere. He will still get his post opportunities.

[Ctownbulls]

Not a fan at all, I don’t think DeRozan moves the needle offensively (not a huge floor spacer) and not even close to impacting the floor defensively.

I will say, it makes the Bulls more interesting.

7 asts and 7 ftas. One of most efficiency slashers in the league. I would say all of that helps our offense. We have plenty of guys that can shoot 3s.

Again, his work will be in the same area where Vuc will want to operate and you are paying him to score. He is the quintessential, “needs the ball to score effectively”. Let’s not get into his lack of defensive, well anything.

Vuc is going to be shooting 6-8 threes a game.

[TheStig]

Well I always complained the Bulls never made big moves and never went all in. Can't really say that anymore. Don't know how I feel about giving up a first for Derozan. I don't know how DeRozan does as the third option and that's a lot of money. We also have no bigs outside of Vuc.

[WindyCityBorn]

Not a fan at all, I don’t think DeRozan moves the needle offensively (not a huge floor spacer) and not even close to impacting the floor defensively.

I will say, it makes the Bulls more interesting.

7 asts and 7 ftas. One of most efficiency slashers in the league. I would say all of that helps our offense. We have plenty of guys that can shoot 3s.

Again, his work will be in the same area where Vuc will want to operate and you are paying him to score. He is the quintessential, “needs the ball to score effectively”. Let’s not get into his lack of defensive, well anything.

We definitely need to acquire a big that can play defense next to Vuc. I’m not Derozan is a perfect fit, but he absolutely will make us better and we trying to win as many games as possible RIGHT NOW. If you can name some better potential fits that we could have acquired for similar assets I feel free to inform me. Stand pat with what had is not a viable alternative to me either.

[thedarkstark]

Well I always complained the Bulls never made big moves and never went all in. Can't really say that anymore. Don't know how I feel about giving up a first for Derozan. I don't know how DeRozan does as the third option and that's a lot of money. We also have no bigs outside of Vuc.

Bulls gave up the #20+ pick in the 2025 nba draft for a guy who was 11th in the league in assists, and top 30 in scoring last year.

That pick isn't even worth a 3 month rental of a player of Demar's caliber.

[WindyCityBorn]

Well I always complained the Bulls never made big moves and never went all in. Can't really say that anymore. Don't know how I feel about giving up a first for Derozan. I don't know how DeRozan does as the third option and that's a lot of money. We also have no bigs outside of Vuc.

We still have Lauri who we will either keep or trade for another big or two. We might still have our MLE too. I’m not sure about that.