DeRozan is having a great season with the Chicago Bulls, who have become an Eastern Conference All-Star starter, with partner LaVine leading the Bulls to second place in the East. Only last offseason, DeRozan almost joined his hometown team Lakers, he said he wanted to play for his hometown team, and he also wanted to play with James. However, in the end, the Lakers selected the trade to get Wei Shao, DeRozan was signed first and then changed to join the Bulls, and the Lakers did not choose DeRozan, which also made public opinion repeatedly say that the Lakers lost "heavy".
DeRozan originally thought he was going to play for the Los Angeles Lakers and return to his hometown, but the Lakers went in the other direction, and they traded Westbrook — which now seems like a very unwise move. Even though James and Thick Brow pushed for a deal for Westbrook, the Lakers are currently struggling. In contrast, the Bulls made a first-and-last trade with the San Antonio Spurs, and DeRo's approval was the key to the team's rise.
In an interview with Bleacher Report's Taylor Rooks, DeRozan explained that he wouldn't take a big pay cut to play for the Lakers, though he had hoped to play for the Los Angeles Lakers before joining the Chicago Bulls, and he mentioned playing for his hometown team and playing alongside James made it an attractive option.
DeRozan told reporters that he was willing to take a pay cut for the Lakers, "Which is a realistic option, but it will not accept a big pay cut." ”
Although the Bulls are no longer the Eastern Conference leader due to several injuries to the Chicago Bulls, they are only 0.5 wins away from the Heat at the top of the table, and they are still the number two seed in the Eastern Conference. DeRozan averaged a team-leading 26.4 points per game, plus 5.0 rebounds and 4.8 assists. LaVine has been strong this year, the Bulls still have an impressive squad, and they will also be the dark horse team in the East.
Although DeRozan originally had the motivation to play for his hometown team, he is now playing extremely well with the Bulls, and the Lakers' struggle is lamentable. If the Lakers had chosen to bring in DeRozan, what would have happened? It's just that there is no room for hypothetical redemption.
(Text/Drunken Floating Life)