DeMar DeRozan is headed back to the Eastern Conference after three seasons in San Antonio.
The Bulls are making a push for the 2022 postseason as free agency kicks off.
Chicago acquired point guard Lonzo Ball via a sign-and-trade Monday night, and the Bulls doubled down with another sign-and-trade Tuesday. The Bulls will add DeMar DeRozan on a three-year, $85 million deal, sending Thad Young and two future picks to the Spurs for the swingman, per The Athletic's Shams Charania.
Chicago enters 2021–22 looking to register its first playoff series victory since 2014. The Bulls finished No. 11 in the Eastern Conference last season at 31–41, though there is talent on the roster outside of Ball and DeRozan. Zach LaVine earned his first career All-Star appearance in 2020–21, and Chicago traded for All-Star center Nikola Vučević in March. Perhaps a revamped core can bring the Bulls back to relevance in a crowded Eastern Conference.
Catching Up on a Busy First Day of Free Agency
Check out the latest news and notes from around the NBA:
- Two-time All-Star center Andre Drummond is signing a one-year deal with the 76ers. (Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN)
- Veteran forward Rudy Gay has agreed to a two-year deal with the Jazz. (Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN)
- Former Kings and Heat forward Nemanja Bjelica has agreed to a one-year deal with the Warriors. (Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN)
- Former Raptors forward Rodney Hood has agreed to a one-year deal with the Bucks. (Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN)
- Restricted free-agent guard Bruce Brown Jr. is signing the one-year qualifying offer of $4.7 million to return to the Nets. (Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN)
- The 76ers are planning to waive point guard George Hill. (Shams Charania, The Athletic)
- Suns forward Abdel Nader has agreed to a two-year, $4.2 million deal to return to Phoenix. (Shams Charania, The Athletic)
- Center Robin Lopez has agreed to a one-year deal with the Magic. (Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN)
- Point guard Patty Mills has agreed to a two-year, $12 million deal with the Nets. (Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN)
- Malik Monk and the Lakers have agreed to a contract. (Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN)
- Talen Horton-Tucker has agreed to a three-year, $32 million deal to stay with the Lakers. (Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN)
- Kendrick Nunn has agreed to a two-year, $10 million deal with the Lakers and has a player option in year two. (Shams Charania, The Athletic)
- Ish Smith has agreed to a one-year deal with the Hornets. (Shams Charania, The Athletic)
- Markieff Morris is agreeing to a one-year deal with the Heat. (Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN)
- George Hill plans to sign with the Bucks after he clears waivers and the opening of the league year on Aug. 6. (Shams Charania, The Athletic)
- Hassan Whiteside agreed to a deal to join the Jazz. (Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN)
More NBA Coverage:
• NBA Free Agency Mailbag
• NBA Free Agency Blog
• Grading Lonzo Ball's $85M Deal With the Bulls
• 2021 NBA Free Agency: Ranking the Top 50 Players