Lakers add DeMar DeRozan to the Alex Caruso trade package
The Los Angeles Lakers may not stop at just adding Alex Caruso. Los Angeles may also look to add more star power and DeMar DeRozan would be atop the list. Not only is DeRozan on an expiring deal that should be shopped (if the Bulls are smart), but the Lakers have previous ties to DeRozan. The team infamously almost traded for him instead of Russell Westbrook back in 2021.
Taking on DeRozan in the deal would obviously mean more salaries are coming to Los Angeles, so the trade package would have to look much different. Here is what a likely deal could look like:
The Lakers would have to give the Bulls players that they could build around (or move for more assets) in the future. That is why Rui Hachimura and Gabe Vincent are in this deal, on top of being necessary to make the money work.
Bulls fans may scoff at this trade expecting the Lakers to trade multiple picks for a big name like DeRozan. The problem is that his value is reduced as he is past his prime and is on an expiring deal. It is very hard for teams to get max value for players when they are only trading five months of that player’s services.
In this trade the Bulls would get two solid rotation players for the future, a third solid rotation player that can be flipped to a third team for a second-round pick, a recent first-round pick with potential as well as an unprotected first from a franchise where nothing is guaranteed.
This is about as good as the Bulls are going to get if they sell DeRozan. Other teams may be offering more protected picks or second-round picks, but the accumulative value of adding Hachimura and Vincent is better value for Chicago.