With DeRozan and Ball, Bulls eye jump in Eastern Conference

CHI CAGO ( AP) — Joining Olympian Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic in what could be a high-scoring trio appealed to DeMar DeRozan. He is thrilled to get to play alongside fellow newcomer Lonzo Ball, too.

He sees a team poised to make a jump, and that explains why the Chicago Bulls were an attractive destination.

“Every guy, when I look at their roster, has a chip on their shoulders,” DeRozan said. “Vuc, since college, I know the type of player he is, how bad he wants to win. Zach wanting to be on that main stage and wanting to compete for something much more than just stats during the season. Myself, I always carried a chip on my shoulder. And Lonzo . ... There’s so much there that can bring so much potential.”

The Bulls finished 11th in the Eastern Conference and missed the playoffs for the fourth straight year. While it was their first season with Arturas Karnisovas leading the front office and Billy Donovan coaching the club, they clearly have their sights set on the postseason.

The Bulls are banking on DeRozan and Ball to help them get there after making big moves to acquire the two in separate sign-and-trade deals. They introduced their new arrivals on Friday.

DeRozan, a four-time All-Star with eight straight seasons averaging more than 20 points, agreed to a three-year, $85 million contract. In return, the Bulls sent San Antonio veteran forwards Thaddeus Young and Al-Farouq Aminu, a protected first-round draft pick and two second-round draft picks.

The Bulls gave Ball, a restricted free agent, $85 million over four years. The Pelicans got Garrett Temple, Tomas Satoransky, a 2024 second-round draft pick from Chicago and landed guard Devonte Graham from Charlotte in a separate sign-and-trade move.

“I think everything happens for a reason and everything plans out how it’s supposed to plan out,” Ball said. “I think at this point in my life, it was time for me to be a Chicago Bull. I’m happy to be in Chicago. Obviously, I’ve got good bonds with guys over there in New Orleans. It could have worked out, but like I said, everything happens for a reason.”

Ball, a four-year veteran who turns 24 in October, is coming off his best season. In his second year with the Pelicans, he averaged career highs in points (14.6 per game) and field-goal percentage (41.4) while averaging 5.7 assists. He hit a career-high 172 3-pointers last season while making a career-best 37.8% of his shots from deep. ---AP