The Los Angeles Lakers are in full business mode after their star LeBron James shared his wish for a pay cut for resigning three star players. Now, reports indicate that the Lakers have set their sights on adding DeMar DeRozan to their lineup.
Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer revealed that the Lakers are rushing towards third-party trades for D’Angelo Russell to bring DeRozan from the Chicago Bulls.
Report: The Lakers may send D’Angelo Russell to a third team to land DeMar DeRozan, per @JakeLFischer.
“For the Lakers to bring on DeRozan, Los Angeles may have to work with a third team to offload some salary, such as D’Angelo Russell or Gabe Vincent. The Nets have been open to… pic.twitter.com/pr4mE4a0Q4
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) July 1, 2024
“For the Lakers to bring on DeRozan, Los Angeles may have to work with a third team to offload some salary, such as D’Angelo Russell or Gabe Vincent. The Nets have been open to welcoming Russell back to Barclays Center since this past trade deadline,” Fischer reported.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst also chimed in, reporting that DeRozan is among the players LeBron James is willing to take a pay cut to play alongside.
“I think there’s more than three. I think DeMar DeRozan is on that list as well. And there may be another one or so,” Windhorst said.
While Russell was a strong performer for the Lakers last season, the opportunity to acquire a player of DeRozan’s caliber could be a game-changer for the team.
DeMar DeRozan Unsettled by the Chicago Bulls’ Offseason Moves
The Chicago Bulls have begun a major transformation this summer, starting with a significant trade on June 20th. They sent Alex Caruso to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Josh Giddey. However, this move seems to have unsettled star player DeMar DeRozan.
According to Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, DeRozan is now set on leaving Chicago due to the trade involving Caruso and Giddey.
The Bulls' trading for Josh Giddey was the 'final straw,' and now DeMar DeRozan is no longer looking to stay with the Bulls, per @JCowleyHoops
“A source told the Sun-Times late Sunday night that the Alex Caruso-Josh Giddey trade was the final straw in DeRozan’s mind for any… pic.twitter.com/HjlBibDEvk
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) July 1, 2024
“A source told the Sun-Times late Sunday night that the Alex Caruso-Josh Giddey trade was the final straw in DeRozan’s mind for any sort of return, as the 34-year-old will now use his free agency to shop elsewhere,” Cowley reported.
