DeMar DeRozan No Longer Fits Bulls' Plans Amid Latest NBA Free Agency, Trade Rumors

While NBA free agency won't officially open until Sunday, the Chicago Bulls have already gotten their offseason started. Last week, the Bulls swapped out guard Alex Caruso for guard Josh Giddey in a deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Choosing to flip the switch on that trade was likely the first of many difficult decisions Chicago will make this offseason. One of them will involve the future of forward DeMar DeRozan.

According to K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago, the Bulls and DeRozan are interested in a continued partnership but aren't exactly barrelling toward a new deal.

"Last year at this time, there was more momentum for Nikola Vučević to re-sign in this exclusive negotiation period before free agency begins than there is currently for DeRozan," Johnson wrote.

The reality is that while DeRozan has been a strong contributor in Chicago, he's also set to turn 35 in August. For a franchise that appears to be pivoting toward younger players like Giddey, DeRozan no longer fits.

The Bulls' next decision will involve what to do with the 11th overall pick in Wednesday's draft. According to Johnson, Chicago has "exuded confidence" in their ability to find a difference-maker with that selection. Partnering the rookie with Giddey, Coby White, Patrick Williams and possibly Zach LaVine would give the Bulls a relatively young core around which to begin rebuilding.

According to Johnson, "several rival executives" expect Chicago to re-sign or match all offers for Williams.

LaVine has been the subject of trade speculation. However, he may not carry the trade value that Chicago wants now that packaging him with Caruso is off the table.

According to HoopsHype, the Philadelphia 76ers are far less interested in acquiring LaVine with Caruso already gone. Other teams undoubtedly feel similarly.

Trading LaVine for proverbial pennies wouldn't make much sense. He's only 29, he's a 46.4-percent career shooter, and he was an All-Star-caliber player before a foot injury limited him to 25 games this past season.

LaVine is also, on paper, a very strong complement to Giddey. Hanging on to LaVine—at least, until closer to the trade deadline—would make plenty of sense. If LaVine rebounds from his February surgery and meshes with Chicago's younger lineup, the Bulls could be eyeing a very bright future.

It's fair to wonder if or how DeRozan can fit into that future. He's still quite good but may not remain a top-tier player for long. He's also entering a point in his career where he may want to chase a ring, and Chicago is likely years away from title contention. He's highly unlikely to offer a hometown discount to a reloading franchise.

Keeping DeRozan also wouldn't be cheap. He reportedly turned down an earlier extension offer worth up to $40 million per season. That's far too much to invest in an aging player who doesn't quite fit with how the rest of the lineup is likely to operate.

The Bulls, who haven't won a playoff series since the 2014-15 season, have been a middling franchise for far too long. It's time to try a fresh approach, embrace the rebuild and stop trying to hang around the playoff fringes. Allowing DeRozan to depart and saving cap flexibility for future moves should be part of that plan.