DeMar DeRozan Opens Up About Cancelled Meeting With Clippers

DeMar DeRozan to the LA Clippers was a real possibility
Adam Glanzman | Credit: Getty Images

Back in the offseason, there was legitimate buzz surrounding the possibility of DeMar DeRozan returning home to Los Angeles to join the Clippers or the Lakers. It of course never happened, as he is now amidst an All-NBA campaign with the Chicago Bulls; however, according to DeMar, the Clippers were a real possibility.

In a recent episode of Serge Ibaka's "How Hungry Are You?" YouTube series, DeRozan joined the show for a discussion with his former teammate. The two discussed a multitude of topics, with one being DeMar's complicated free agency situation.

For context, the episode was filmed in the offseason, but was just recently published to YouTube. When asked about the reportedly cancelled meeting he had set up with the LA Clippers, DeRozan said, "Nothing but respect to Lawrence Frank and the whole Clippers organization. Great people. It definitely was an opportunity that presented itself. I think for me, the Chicago thing just took off."

DeRozan added that if the Clippers would have met with him a day earlier, it could have worked; however, with Chicago's offer being what it was, there was never much chance for the Clippers to match that number. DeRozan said he would have been willing to take a small pay cut had Kyle Lowry been in LA, but admitted that at that point, the available money would have been too little anyways.

Ultimately, DeRozan signed with the Chicago Bulls, and the fit has been great for both sides.

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Joey Linn
JOEY LINN

Joey Linn is a credentialed writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated's FanNation. Covering the LA Clippers independently in 2018, then for Fansided and 213Hoops from 2019-2021, Joey joined Sports Illustrated's FanNation to cover the Clippers after the 2020-21 season. Graduating from Biola University in 2022 with a Communication Studies degree, Joey served as Biola's play-by-play announcer for their basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer teams during his time in school. Joey's work on Biola's broadcasts, combined with his excellence in the classroom, earned him the Outstanding Communication Studies Student of the year award in 2022. Joey covers the NBA full-time across multiple platforms, primarily serving as a credentialed Clippers beat writer.