The Bulls’ resilience has been on full display in the last month.
No Zach LaVine? No problem. Their 9-4 record since he has been sidelined with an injury to his right foot is evidence of that. (LaVine continued his running program Wednesday and might be cleared for contact in practices sooner than later.)
Nikola Vucevic in street clothes with a groin injury? Let’s reintroduce Andre Drummond to the rest of the NBA. All Drummond did Tuesday against the Hawks was put up 24 points and 25 rebounds in his first start with the Bulls. (Vucevic might need another week before he can return.)
But what has become obvious the last couple of seasons is that the one player the Bulls can’t do without is veteran forward DeMar DeRozan.
If executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas is serious about reloading rather than rebuilding, signing DeRozan to a contract extension has to be a priority as long as the money and years fit.
Why invest in the 34-year-old DeRozan now? Because he continues to show it’s about his presence as much as it is his numbers.
Guard Coby White’s dependence on DeRozan is somewhat eye-opening.
In the last two seasons, White has averaged 11.7 points, 3.3 assists and 3.2 rebounds in 96 games with DeRozan and 10.1 points, 2.9 assists and 2.8 rebounds in 88 games with LaVine.
In that same time period, White is averaging 21.7 points, 5.8 assists and 5.3 rebounds in 18 games without LaVine and 15.5 points, 4.3 assists and 3.9 rebounds in 10 games without DeRozan.
While the sample size this season alone is much smaller, White is averaging 23.4 points, 6.3 assists and 5.8 rebounds in 14 games without LaVine and 13.2 points, 3.9 assists and 2.9 rebounds in 18 games with him.
In two games without DeRozan this season, White has averaged 14 points, four assists and 2.5 rebounds; in 30 games with him, White is averaging 17.9 points, five assists and 4.3 rebounds.
Still not convinced that DeRozan makes this younger wave of talent better?
Forward Patrick Williams is averaging 13.2 points and 4.4 rebounds without LaVine and 7.4 points and 3.8 rebounds with him this season.
That makes sense because LaVine’s scoring leaves less opportunity for others. The same is true of DeRozan, but the numbers are much less pronounced.
Williams is at 10.5 points and 5.5 rebounds without DeRozan and at 9.9 points and four rebounds with him this season.
And while statistics are often in the eye of the beholder, victories and losses are far tougher to dispute.
Since DeRozan, LaVine and Vucevic came together for the 2021-22 season, the Bulls are 7-9 (.438 winning percentage) without DeRozan and 20-14 (.588) without LaVine.
The knock some have against DeRozan seems to be the isolation ball that the Bulls turn to in clutch moments — defined as the final five minutes of a game within five points — and the fact that the ball is usually in DeRozan’s hands.
But there’s a reason coach Billy Donovan leans on DeRozan in such situations: It’s called a proven track record.
LaVine is 7-for-16 from the field (43.8%) in such situations this season, with White 11-for-24 (45.8%) and Williams 6-for-11 (54.5%). DeRozan leads the Bulls at 20-for-33 (60.6%) in clutch moments.
And how about with the game on the line in the last 30 seconds? DeRozan is 6-for-8 (75%) and LaVine 2-for-6 (33.3%). Alex Caruso is 3-for-3 in that scenario, by the way.
As of now, extension talks between DeRozan and the Bulls are quiet. But if Karnisovas is serious about looking only to trade LaVine, it might be best for him to get back to the table with DeRozan this season.
