Bulls 2022 Championship Odds Shorten to +6000 After Acquiring DeMar DeRozan in Sign-and-Trade From Spurs

• DeMar DeRozan lands with the Chicago Bulls in a sign-and-trade deal with the Spurs
• DeRozan joins offseason haul that includes Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso 
• Read below to see if the Bulls are worth a wager for the NBA title

It’s widely considered to be a three-to-four team slugfest to win the East.

Now, the Chicago Bulls are trying to crash the party.

On Tuesday, the Bulls acquired San Antonio Spurs’ swingman DeMar DeRozan in a sign-and-trade, and will sign the veteran to a deal in the 3-year, $85 million range.

Suddenly, one of the saddest franchises in the NBA is looking legit, and oddsmakers are taking notice. The most recent NBA Championship odds have the Bulls jumping to +6000 odds, from their previous mark of +8000.

2022 NBA Championship Odds

*Odds as of August 3 at DraftKings

There’s plenty to unpack here, so let’s see if there’s a case to take a flier on this newly-formed iteration of the Bulls.

Chicago Keeps Upgrading

The Bulls’ current path to relevance started at the trade deadline last year, when they traded for Magic big man Nikola Vucevic, sending promising big man Wendell Carter Jr, wing Otto Porter Jr and two future first-round picks to Orlando. This summer’s spree is another building block to that plan.

Sources: Bulls are sending Thaddeus Young, Al-Farouq Aminu, a protected first-round pick and two second-round picks to Spurs for DeMar DeRozan. https://t.co/j2IzbpFML0

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) August 3, 2021

Perhaps the most encouraging news is the fact that picking up DeMar didn’t cost them any real assets. Veterans Thad Young and Al-Farouq Aminu are headed to San Antonio, along with a protected first round pick and a second rounder. The move gives the Bulls one of basketball’s most reliable scorers, who used his time under Gregg Popovich to hone his all-around game.

The 31-year-old DeRozan averaged 21.6 points on 49.5% shooting from the field, while averaging better than seven attempts per game at the stripe. His real evolution came as a playmaker, recording a career-best 6.9 assists per game, while also contributing 4.2 rebounds a night.

DeMar DeRozan last season:

21.6 PPG
6.9 APG (career-high)
4.2 RPG
49% FG
88% FT (career-high)

Remains underrated. pic.twitter.com/cF0HpyUFR6

— Hilltop Hoops (@HilltopNBA) August 3, 2021

Shooting threes has never been a part of his game, hitting at a 25.7% clip from three-point range a year ago, he’s just a career 28% shooter from deep. But his new squad should have enough shooting at every other position to allow DD to go to work inside and in the midrange, allowing him to find open targets along the perimeter.

Bulls Should Compete

For the first time in a long time, the Bulls have top-end talent across all positions.

Free agent signee Lonzo Ball brings an improved three-point stroke, strong defense and little maintenance in terms of having the ball and needing shots to be effective.

Alex Caruso brings championship pedigree and solid play off the bench. And the Bulls still have all-star Zach LaVine, stretch forward Lauri Markkanen (though he’s a free agent and could move) and Vucevic inside. Youngsters Coby White and Patrick Williams will be contributors as well.

The Bulls starting five:

Lonzo Ball
Zach LaVine
DeMar DeRozan
Patrick Williams
Nikola Vucevic pic.twitter.com/AUz5wDWuUB

— StatMuse (@statmuse) August 3, 2021

Perhaps the biggest question will be if this roster can compete at an elite level defensively. Last season, the Bulls were a surprising 12th in defensive rating, and were a middle-of-the-pack 14th in points allowed, giving up 111.6 per night.

The real improvement needs to be made in protecting the ball. The Bulls were 27th out of 30 teams in the league last year in turnovers, coughing it up better than 15 times a game, and that led to a 4th-worst mark in points off turnovers, surrendering close to 18 free points per contest.

One of my favorite players to watch . @ZachLaVine pic.twitter.com/I2gyyyB9v6

— Jay Walk (@Jamaziing_) July 31, 2021

Even with the new additions, it’s hard to position this new-look Chicago team ahead of any of the Nets, Bucks, 76ers and Heat — though they should, in theory, be able to hang with them.

Worthy Wager?

I’d only recommend the Bulls as a flier if you’re trying to strike gold. I’d like to see how Billy Donovan sets his rotations, and if they plan to add any other vets (particularly big men) to the mix.

As currently constructed, however, the Bulls are now a playoff team with DeRozan in the fold. Even if they start the season hot, their odds will shorten, but you’d still get them at somewhere in the neighborhood of +3000 to +4000 at best.