How the New York Knicks Trade For Chicago Bulls' DeMar DeRozan

DeMar DeRozan could linger among the New York Knicks' realistic trade targets if his Chicago Bulls continue to falter.
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While many are counting down to Christmas, some NBA front offices are targeting Dec. 15: the first day that offseason acquisitions can be traded, which will only add to the rumor mill leading up to February's transactional deadline.

With that in mind, Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report envisioned trades for potential talents on the move. The New York Knicks are involved in one such hypothetical deal, obtaining Chicago Bulls guard DeMar DeRozan for Evan Fournier, Quentin Grimes, Miles McBride, a 2025 first-round pick (top-four protected, from Milwaukee)) and a 2024 second-round pick (from Detroit).

DeRozan (11) drives against RJ Barrett in a 2022 game
DeRozan (11) drives against RJ Barrett in a 2022 game / Andy Marlin, USA TODAY SPORTS

"The Knicks keep scanning the market for a star, but it's possible this trade market never offers up true top-shelf talent," Buckley writes. "If it doesn't, New York could pivot to a second-tier target like DeRozan, who could upgrade this attack without costing a mountain of assets. He's a proven scorer with a knack for coming up big in the clutch, and he's a rock-solid option as a secondary playmaker."

For the Knicks (12-9), it's becoming a matter of when, not if, when it comes to making a big, flashy trade. But is DeRozan the answer to their pursuit?

DeRozan, 34, isn't quite in his prime, but he's still averaging 21.4 points per game this season for the Bulls (9-14), who seemed destined to sell come the deadline. That's only a few points more than current starter RJ Barrett, who would certainly take a step back in his role if DeRozan came to New York.

Should New York Knicks Reconsider Trading for a Star?

Since the Bulls acquired DeRozan, they've failed to make any significant postseason noise and are coming off a 10th-place finish in the East that ended in last year's Play-In Tournament. DeRozan is set to be an unrestricted free agent after this season.

DeRozan and the Bulls are set to visit Madison Square Garden on Jan. 3. In the meantime, the Knicks will face the Toronto Raptors on Monday night at home (7:30 p.m. ET, MSG).


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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.