Videos

Report: DeMar DeRozan felt like Lakers were in ‘disarray’ and ‘didn’t know what they were doing’

Published by
Peter Dewey

Chicago Bulls wing DeMar DeRozan reportedly felt like the Los Angeles Lakers were in “disarray” when he was making his free-agency decision this past offseason.

DeRozan eventually went to Chicago in a sign-and-trade with the San Antonio Spurs, and he has thrived, making the All-Star team as a starter this season.

“I talked to someone from DeRozan’s camp,” Ohm Youngmisuk said. “When DeRozan was in town in L.A., and he basically stuck it to the Lakers. The impression that I got from his camp was that DeRozan felt that the Lakers were in sort of disarray. They didn’t really have a vision. They didn’t know what they were doing.”

Los Angeles ended up trading for Russell Westbrook, and the experiment hasn’t worked out like the team expected.

Los Angeles is currently the No. 11 seed in the Western Conference, and it has just a 31-47 record for the season. The Lakers have struggled to mesh together, and it has led to the team needing to close the season strong to even have a chance to make the league’s play-in tournament.

As for DeRozan, it appears he made the right move by choosing to go to Chicago.

The veteran wing is averaging 28.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game while shooting 50.3 percent from the field and 35.5 percent from beyond the arc this season.

DeRozan has thrived alongside Zach LaVine in Chicago, and he’s averaging the most points per game in a single season in his career.

Los Angeles will need to change the perception around its franchise this offseason so it becomes a more attractive destination to free agent targets. The fact that the Lakers turned DeRozan, who is from California, away with their lack of planning is concerning for the franchise moving forward.

Peter Dewey

Peter is a graduate of Quinnipiac University where he covered the MAAC and college basketball for three years. He has worked for NBC Sports, the Connecticut Sun and the Meriden Record-Journal covering basketball and other major sports. Follow him on Twitter @peterdewey2.

Published by
Peter Dewey

Recent Posts

Ex-teammate of Kobe and Shaq reacts to ‘BS’ narrative about Bryant being O’Neal’s sidekick

Gilbert Arenas is a self-described fan of Kobe Bryant, but he turned some heads when…

December 22, 2024

Jordan and Shaq’s ex-teammate discredits LeBron’s ‘bubble’ ring after he’s called Lakers legend

The Los Angeles Lakers have sky-high expectations compared to the lion's share of other NBA…

December 21, 2024

‘LeBron makes the trades’: Carmelo Anthony speaks out on chances of Lakers dealing LeBron James

Amid chatter about the future of 20-time All-Star LeBron James with the Los Angeles Lakers,…

December 20, 2024

DeMarcus Cousins says he and Anthony Davis would’ve helped Pelicans become contenders if not for ‘dumba-s’ Dell Demps

Former All-Star big man DeMarcus Cousins called out former New Orleans Pelicans general manager Dell…

December 19, 2024

Darvin Ham fires massive shot at Lakers: ‘Anywhere else I’m probably looking at an extension’

Darvin Ham has had more NBA Cup success than any coach in the league since…

December 18, 2024

Bobby Portis on the difference between the Bucks and the Lakers: ‘We’re not Hollywood’

The Milwaukee Bucks captured the 2024 NBA Cup title with a 97-81 victory over the…

December 18, 2024