DeMar DeRozan considering massive trade request from Chicago Bulls amid tensions with Zach Lavine

The Chicago Bulls all-star forward DeMar DeRozan is said to be considering requesting a trade away from the team according to Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes.

Chicago has already been dealing with superstar Zach LaVine’s ever growing disconnect with team, and a trade request from Derozan would be a potentially crippling blow to the team’s roster.

A report from the Athletic this week also stated that DeRozan and LaVine have had several one-on-one meetings to attempt to solve the ‘stylistic tension,’ that has arose between the duo.

On court tension between LaVine and fellow all-star Demar DeRozan has been a major issue

DeRozan is apparently not the only player that there has been tension between with LaVine as the Bulls players reportedly had a strong exchange of words during halftime of the team’s 150-136 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, with multiple teammates directing frustration at.

Following the game head coach Billy Donovan referred to the confrontation as ‘healthy,’ and said players were trying to hold each other accountable.

On top of this and perhaps more importantly, Chicago has underperformed this season. 

Chicago both hoped and was widely expected to be a serious contender in the east this year after they finished sixth in the conference last year, but the exact opposite has taken place.

Even with the ‘on court tension’ Lavine and DeRozan are said to hold a strong friendship

The Bulls are currently 11th in the east with a 13-18 record and recently discovered they may be with point guard Lonzo Ball for the entire season as he recovers from a knee injury. 

DeRozan has been averaging 25.9 points, 4.7 assists, and five rebounds, having one of the more productive seasons of his career.

He is also has one year remaining his contract which would likely be active to trade suiters extremely attractive to trade suiters.

Amid the tension and bad results head coach Billy Donovan’s job is said to be safe as of now

Often times in a situation such as this with two disgruntled stars and an underperforming team, increased attention would be placed on the job security of coach Donovan, however it was stated in the report that Donovan’s job security is safe as of now.

Donovan signed a multiyear extension before the start of the season much like Lavine who signed a max deal worth $215 million over the course of five years.

DeRozan is also owed a large sum of money from the team due to the three-year $85 million dollar deal he signed in the summer of 2021 to join the Bulls in free agency.