Six-Time NBA All-Star Almost Joined Lakers Before Russell Westbrook Trade

This former Chicago Bulls star almost joined the Los Angeles Lakers.

Farbod Esnaashari | 2 Hours Ago

Russell Westbrook poses with Los Angeles Lakers jersey at press conference. / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

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The Chicago Bulls signed DeMar DeRozan in the summer of 2021 as part of a sign-and-trade with the San Antonio Spurs, but there was a very real chance the All-Star forward was going to sign elsewhere.

DeRozan, who is from Los Angeles, has never been shy about wanting to come back home play in his hometown. It hasn't played out that way yet, but he's spoken on a number of occasions about wanting to do so.

DeRozan was recently on Lou Williams' "Underground Lounge" podcast, where he told the story of the 2021 offseason. In his mind, he was going to be a Laker until the purple and gold pivoted to Russell Westbrook.

"It was almost a done deal before Russ went there," DeRozan said. "It caught me off guard because I didn't more so see the Russ thing happening. Because we were working towards making it happen. I think I spoke on it before, but it was close. It was close."

Williams, DeRozan's former Raptors teammate and host of the show asked, "Would you have went?"

DeRozan said not only would he have gone to the Lakers, but he was thinking it was a done deal.

"Yeah, I would've went. It was basically almost a done deal. In my mind, I thought it was a done deal."

DeMar DeRozan on joining the Lakers before Russ trade.

"It was almost a done deal before Russ went there..It caught me off guard cuz I didn't more so see the Russ thing happening. It was close"

Lakers could have had Buddy Hield and DeMar DeRozan but chose Russell Westbrook. pic.twitter.com/j36OHY42Wq
— DeMarvelous Fox & Ox (@SecurinDaBagley) September 19, 2024