DeMar DeRozan Says He Was Supposed To Be A Laker... Then They Traded For Russ

DeMar DeRozan talks to JJ Redick about his free agency process that ultimately landed hin on The Chicago Bulls. He also explains how he thought he would be joining LeBron James, Anthony Davis and The Los Angeles Lakers until Kyle Lowry told him that The Lakers had traded for Russell Westbrook. Ah... what could've been.
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[@taximan031]

One of the biggest Lakers free agency L’s of all time!!

[@Ballchat]

Not really who knows if demar is this good on the lakers he prob is better then russ tho

[@ThomasTheTankEngine22]

@@Ballchat it would have been better than that dumpster fire called Russell Westbrook

[@almightyyvonn5776]

He can’t shoot either tho

[@tysonbrownjr.4088]

@@almightyyvonn5776 way better then westbrook

[@runitchicago323]

Cp3 ? Kg?

[@mattn99]

DeMar's PPG last season: 27.9 Here are some teams he had multiple big games against last season: LAC - 35 LAC - 50 LAL - 38 LAL - 38 PHI - 37 PHI - 45 NYK - 31 NYK - 34 NYK - 37

[@iguacu3517]

Best stat would probably be usage rate or shot attempts per minute.

[@abduljabar5932]

Just bout to google this. Thanks bro. You solid.

[@26nadan]

I’m so relieved my team isn’t up here hilarious 😂😂😂

[@supwititproductionz3738]

@@iguacu3517 he was pretty efficient last year

[@TheBaconBasket1]

The Knicks offering a 20 PPG scorer the vet minimum is such a Knicks thing I'm not sure what could be more Knicks.

[@jjleblanc8151]

He dropped 50 on the clippers if people were wondering

[@mintyking1]

31 the other time as well

[@reezy1441]

Nobody asked

[@bob98916]

@@reezy1441 I did, so you can sit down somewhere scrub

[@matthew6272]

clippers with no kawhi

[@munknown9722]

@@reezy1441 your mother did

[@callofdudie]

I wish we got to see DeRozan to the Lakers

[@MrAlvarez23]

One of the biggest mistake😭😭😭

[@darrylberrymon970]

still might, he'll be old as hell by the time he gets here tho...lol

[@aking2330]

Would have still been a bad team that missed the playoffs

[@cliffordadam100]

@@MrAlvarez23 That and caruso

[@felixb6403]

Wish you were a LAKER big dog! Regardless u a LEGEND in the city !!

[@MrAlvarez23]

Hearing this from Demar make my blood boiled😡😡😡😡 Big L for the Lakers

[@piplonf8591]

He would've folded in the playoffs worse than Russ like always

[@chairofthebored]

@@piplonf8591 And how did the Lakers do last year? Oh wait...

[@piplonf8591]

@@chairofthebored they missed the play ins something the bulls should've did they ain't even stand a chance

[@jaymarkanthonysacres9505]

me too. you can see he was ready and happy to play for lakers. he even said in other interview, he is willing to take a pay cut to play for lakers. he was playing really2x good for bulls. imagine if he was in lakers after hearing this from him.

[@MolloyDadda247Luke]

@@piplonf8591 Lakers didn't even make the playoffs 🤣

[@dipper5835]

These podcast are a treasure to the fans. It makes the player feel safe and they open up more honestly about behind the scene stuff. We would never get these types of information without these players podcast

[@prolificartsociety6805]

Facts 🤙🏾

[@Leems19]

Love that he heard the news from Kyle Lowry 😂

[@vmunit2931]

Didn't catch it the first time, his pronunciation threw me :D

[@_YourFlyIsOpen]

They are boys 4 life

[@JonathanAwesomeify]

@@vmunit2931 "Kal Lorry."

[@yanicooley7956]

Best friend

[@samr131]

Down in ‘Mesco’

[@emmanuelcrepin773]

Bruhhh imagine if we had Deebo instead of Russ, what a blunder 🤦🏾‍♂️🤦🏾‍♂️🤦🏾‍♂️

[@kingghxstgaming]

@Andre Piguodala he would’ve been a way better fit than Russ and we could’ve kept players.

[@CamPerry]

Don't think it would have been a good fit tbh

[@holden6104]

So much for the Lakers' version that DeMar was holding out on them.

[@thenameisyosh]

ESPN about to EAT THIS UP 😂😂 SAS: 😤😤😤😤😤

[@dwoodstwin]

This is so heartbreaking. Everybody said the Lakers needed shooting, and they went and got the worst shooter in the league

[@FinalB055]

as a Warriors fan I’m glad he went to Chicago. As a DeRozan fan I’m sad he didn’t get a chance to play at home.

[@ye7006]

But he looks hella good in a bulls jersey, number 11 goes hard too

[@ye7006]

Plus he probably wouldn’t have had the best year of his career in LA like he did n chi

[@rolandoc2708]

@@ye7006 As good as Demar is and I’m glad he’s a BULL. Don’t think he wouldn’t have had the same success on the Lakers.. Only due to the reason Bron is there

[@bigbriggsof1996]

What does you being a warriors fan have to do with anything?

[@ye7006]

@@bigbriggsof1996 warriors fans don’t want to see the lakers have success

[@kipsangoscar]

JJ is much better as a podcaster than presenter...!!! He knows how to make the players comfortable to speak about anything.👏👏👏👏

[@Mo13uckets]

I still don’t think it would’ve worked with the Lakers b/c Demar was so great with My Bulls last season b/c he had the ball in his hands and was allowed to create. They would’ve had him spotting up off ball on the Lakers and then calling him a bad fit

[@dlmoneysign]

It wouldve worked better than Russ i can tell you that much

[@DJDJ-iu7qr]

Bron would’ve gave demar the ball just like he did with AD. He gave the ball to Russ too and took it back because of how trash westbrick was handling the ball

[@Mo13uckets]

@@dlmoneysign lol I agree with that

[@aking2330]

@@dlmoneysign no it wouldn't derozan don't play D

[@cykablyat1466]

It wouldn't have worked either way because they we're gutting their championship squad for a 3rd star that doesn't over compensate for all the holes they've ended up creating from the trade. They still wouldn't space the floor that well and the defense would still be awful.

[@supernova9721]

Who in their right mind would think paying Russ almost 100 million for 2 years is better than signing DeMar for a decent contract??? Doesn't make sense basketball wise and financially.

[@mo7286]

Rob Pelinka.....

[@themarkl0813]

@@mo7286 no, it was lbj for sure

[@tdup191]

@@themarkl0813 it's always someone else fault in Bron groupies mind when it obvious Bron and AD wanted Russ. They were all kicking it at Bron crib prior to trade

[@Anthonydu01630]

@@tdup191 True but at the end of the day Lebron isn’t the GM, he isn’t the one making the final decision 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@lornegreen6755]

@@themarkl0813 yes lebron wanted Russ, but pelinka could easily say no. I mean y’all say he’s not the goat so why would a Gm listen to him

[@logancharles3612]

Keep up the good JJ Redick, Love all of videos. I am big fan, and hope to be on your show in the future. I want to be sport commentator when I grown up. DeRozan is my favorite player in the NBA, I wish he could wine tot he Lakers to win a chip with LeBon James and Anthony Davis!!

[@mojomogul]

This breaks my heart as a Lakers fan. It was heavily rumored and to hear it first hand now the tragedy is deeper! I've been a DeMar fan since the Spurs days he would have solidified a big 3

[@garyoak1696]

Since the spurs days lol. Literally 2 years ago

[@TheGOATRammus]

You made it seem like spurs days was so long ago lol

[@rolandoc2708]

@@garyoak1696 Lmfao 1 season ago. Since this season hasn’t started yet. Glad he’s a BULL!!!!

[@greggardner5015]

Lmao 😂 what about the Toronto raptors with Lowry ?

[@valyaloona1920]

NOOOO I was screaming for the Lakers to get Demar 😭 I didn’t know it almost happened. Big L Lakers

[@Garnachogoat]

Another banger!!!!! MAN I love this channel so much

[@timmynguyen4758]

As a Lakers fan im currently on my death bed from a heart attack

[@cherryboom724]

Choosing Russ over Derozan is one of the biggest L's LeGM took smh

[@-billy6947]

Either way they would've use Derozan as the scapegoat as well if the underachieved

[@TheTswagger]

@@-billy6947 lol least he wouldn't have hit the side of the backboard 😂

[@raushanminor970]

Bron wanted Demar before Russ, the Lakers GM didn’t wanna give Demar an extra year on his contract

[@a.k.446]

@@raushanminor970 they’ll never see that because they need to blame LeBron.

[@folkscrazyouthere3076]

Damn y'all just gone choose to believe what you want at this point. It's already a known fact that LeBron wanted Demar before Westbrook. Rob pelinka and Ms Buss are the ones that that are making it seem like they had nothing to do with Westbrook being a Laker.

[@ActionJacksonForever]

What’s funny is Derozen’s mid range and post game along with LeBron and Anthony Davis, their half court offense would have been very Spurs-esk. This would be including Anthony Davis playing more than 3 quarters without getting injured for half the year

[@Hellamoody]

I'm so depressed as a Lakers fan rn 💀

[@roxy_hernandez]

Great podcast! You guys really make it comfortable to speak about anything.

[@thekingofbars32]

My favorite player since the draft💪🏾💯

[@thesecond8187]

The fact that Chris Paul and Demar were willing to be a Laker, I know it hurts Laker fans.

[@alejandroserrano7755]

Crazy how they coulda had one of the best point guards with CP3 or a deadly mid range shot creator in Demar. Both scenarios looked way better on paper than having Westbrook. Demar always wearing Kobes, playing similar to him too.

[@MannyTwice]

I'm LIVID

[@criseeda]

Lakers GM is stupid

[@TONEakaSHOW]

As a laker fan there's 3 things that ticked me off. First signing Russ over Demar, choosing KCP over BI, choosing THT over Caruso.

[@babajidejoshua7287]

This still hurts 💔 😢

[@billzglo_1]

As a Bulls fan I am always grateful for this 😂😂😂😂

[@rolandoc2708]

Brooo reading these comments especially from Lakers fans is crazy.. So glad this man is in CHICAGO!!!

[@taximan031]

Lakers really traded all of their depth for a washed up Westbrook, when they could’ve just signed the most lethal mid range scorer in the league in free agency . Absolutely mind boggling 😂😂

[@ejc6394]

And he was willing to take less.

[@taximan031]

@@ejc6394 Yup. Nasty work 🤮

[@ChrisTheElectrician]

That’s because the lakers and lebron are a major L

[@hijisfriend9030]

@@ejc6394 they could have Caruso and DeMar there. Yet, they fumbled it hard

[@kingghxstgaming]

@@ChrisTheElectrician or Jennie Buss? Lebron did co-sign tho.

[@datly3287]

Heart breaking for La

[@raushanminor970]

I’m sick bro 😣 he really could’ve been a Laker

[@Land0n]

It was definitely the clippers who offered the vet min

[@_KITE]

Hope this dude gets a ring.. I felt like they could’ve went deep if Ball didn’t get injured

[@Nerdmatic]

This would’ve probably been their repeat season too smh

[@aizwaffles4559]

Nope not repeat becausebefore russ go there shroder and montress first

[@Nerdmatic]

@@aizwaffles4559 I’m confused about you statement because this is Westbrook’s 2nd season.

[@BigBen1994]

Those back to back game winners were crazy 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@fortinito06]

Sac/ Cavs offered the Vet min, he mentioned it.

[@Slapshot544]

Still can't believe we made that trade and lowballed Caruso smh. That was the worst trade in Lakers history and probably the most unnecessary trade ever

[@salmanahjum-mathee9055]

Yeah we took two L's that offseason. Lowballed AC and rather gave that money to THT which turned out to be an absolute waste. Dude didn't show he deserved to be prioritized over AC. And then the DeMar thing also. Two very puzzling moves and that's understating it

[@Slapshot544]

@@salmanahjum-mathee9055 And we lost KCP and Kuzma. KCP was a solid 3 and d player and while Kuzma had his dumb moments bro was actually a solid role player for us

[@salmanahjum-mathee9055]

@@Slapshot544 I feel KCP was a bigger miss. It's funny cause I was one of those people who wanted us to trade him cause it appeared to me he was just trash. But that guy really proved himself pivotal in our title winning season. Kuz was too inconsistent and that was my issue with him. Some nice potential he has but too frequently he'd have low scoring and/or poor shooting games. But man add Demar to that mix and we'd have a damn good team

[@IsHeARealOneVadaRealMC]

Wait… So we could have had Demar AND Buddy Heild???

[@GMacII]

It burned reading this

[@IsHeARealOneVadaRealMC]

@@GMacII I cried typing it brother 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@tysonsturgeon5334]

I love how Kyle lowry was the first to call and ask DeMar about the whole situation. They truly are brother's!

[@lucascosta8640]

pain, all i feel is pain

[@shender78]

Ya Know its good for Demar for avoiding that train wreck. Demar got to showcase his skills on a team that really wanted and needed him, Always one of my fav playrers if only he was the one hitting those shots in 2019 for the Raps instead of Kawhi he truly deserved to win with he Raptors after all he went through to build them up to that level. Hope he gets a chance for a chip but his chances are slim at best with the way the East is so stacked.

[@CP4Z167]

Still my favorite Raptor of all time. Want to see him do well anywhere he goes

[@nickovillasor9096]

straight outta Compton 👌

[@daivunbaldwin6890]

De, born, and AD come on man this could have been legendary

[@drey_scorchin]

Godfather revenge quotes 🐐 & great talk bros 😊

[@ervin9320]

“Revenge is a dish best served cold”

[@Osprey1]

IT PISSES ME OFF TOO that you're not here in LA. 😭😭😭😭😭

[@JoeyThrax]

That shirt DeMar is wearing is 🔥

[@duffman1876]

I need that shirt😳🍻🍺 lol

[@peterpaul176]

Lakers, a gift that keeps on giving

[@LiveBoi2kfan]

JJ when you coming back on Espn First Take? We miss you on there bud

[@lamarmcdonald148]

How they fumble this trade smh

[@jalenlthomas]

As a lakers fan I wanna cry 😂

[@wavestar2958]

Demar get the craziest phone calls

[@AaronMich90]

It was supposed to be the demar plus hield, that would’ve been decent line up

[@kingghxstgaming]

Smh I’m still hurt by this, this would’ve easily been my favorite squad on 2k 😔

[@905north9]

JJ is top tier at this. I click on all these clips so fast lol

[@thomashester2]

I’m sick rn D10 x AD x LBJ woulda been so fire

[@SalKhayer]

It's not just that. D10 would've been free; y'all traded your depth for Russ. Big oof.

[@rowsic159]

Imagine if they kept Caruso too lmao wow

[@rolandoc2708]

@@rowsic159 Yea that has to sting for Lakers fans.. Could’ve had Demar and Caruso stay in LA

[@rolandoc2708]

Bulls fan here... it’s crazy seeing this and thinking on how DeMar and Hield could’ve been Lakers. And they also could’ve kept Caruso. Talk about a fumble !!

[@nvisible123]

"I was sleep in Mesico", lol

[@Doggomorph]

Buzzer beater in back to back games yo

[@lebronjamez45]

How is this not tampering? Demar sounded like he already talked to the lakers front office before free agency started but they lied to him

[@SoSmooth3800]

How many times are we gonna hear this ? Lol

[@Sgogeta80]

Curious to know what teams offered him the medium

[@ericwiafeakenteng3720]

Same here

[@sliqkilla]

need to know

[@user-cf1iw7tf3k]

Tommy is on the sauce 🏋

[@MathewDomach]

He would of been such a better fit

[@dowens3781]

I was really pissed off when we didn't get DeRozan and Lonzo Ball last season. In retrospect, it's good we didn't get Ball because of his continual injuries, but DeMar would've been great - hopefully we can make a trade for him this season or next season.

[@jayjoeacosta8869]

As a Lakers fan and as a fan who also thought it was a done deal I feel even worse to hear it directly from you Demar. The Lakers (Jeannie and Robbie) were wrong and if I was the one making the calls you would’ve been there along with Alex who I would’ve kept in the first place.

[@rafaynaqvi1855]

This just got me heated again

[@patsmith333]

Opportunity Missed! As a Lakers fan, this one hurts.

[@CitizenoftheWorld1]

Lakers fans are still punching the air over this missed trade 🤣🤣🤣 As a LeBron fan I blame him and AD cause they co-signed bringing in Westbrook

[@a.k.446]

They co-signed after Pelinka wouldn’t sign DeMar.

[@jaydixon32]

Westbrook was never supposed to be on the Lakers. The Lakers were supposed to have DeRozan and Buddy Hield but the front office backed out on both deals. Westbrook was the last resort.

[@a.k.446]

@@jaydixon32 I agree but now Magic is blaming LeBron too.

[@kagani6202]

He proceeded to sweep the Lakers during the regular season.

[@justinle8787]

That entire Lakers FO deserves to get fired. You got an all star on sales but chose to trade your entire future instead for a brick machine lol

[@asmranonymousgaming901]

Damn that would have been something else....wow

[@TheChristian50]

Peak Rob Pelinka !

[@neilkwok]

Any idea which team offered the vet minimum?

[@methodsignature]

Sitting here in Wizards land scratching my lid about that revenge.

[@MannyTwice]

I really hate my team sometimes

[@smfh_]

Dam bro we kno we kno why keep rubbing it in 😅😂😂

[@MrE_]

I love how honest he is. That's crazy that the lakers could have had a legit allstar in derozen last year. Instead they went with the Westbrook mess

[@dariusjones7006]

This still hurts my soul

[@SavingSoulsMinistries]

There’s only one way to have your soul restored , and that’s by way of believing on Christ Jesus and receiving the Holy Spirit. There is only one way to Heaven and that’s by way of Christ Jesus

[@miket.4374]

Demar, Zack, Caruso, White, Ball & Airplane Mode are so fun to watch

[@KalmoK]

Tbh I doubt they would've made it far even with him, but maybe a little better than they did

[@MannyParadisee]

You’re right.

[@ethomas5062]

How is rob still employed 😂

[@StarsMediaHD]

what team offered the vet min?

[@rnac5438]

not sure but teams i know that wouldnt do that Not the Mavs Not the grizzlies Not the suns Not Miami Not LA or Chi Most likely were: The knicks The Jazz The wizards

[@markpykes]

Warriors maybe, because that’s what we only had.

[@vibemane4827]

I think it was Miami

[@MintyBuck]

hold on hold on u mean to tell me they coulda got demar?!?!

[@lanksey1606]

Anyone got any ideas on which teams it might be? His vendetta

[@realme-tq4cq]

I’m pretty sure it was the lakers or clippers who offered the vet minimum. I remember the lakers reports were they couldn’t afford him.

[@elnin74]

Man bro you're good where you at man you're a Chicago Bulls and that's what it is

[@cocoydv]

as a Lakers fan, this hurts hella bad (especially with how the season turned out LMAO)

[@BuddaGheeski]

I'm glad he didn't go to LA, we got a squad out here. We need to double back on Rondo tho since Zo might be out

[@simsingh8492]

You guys do have a squad but I’m surprised at the poor playoff run last year.

[@brichards989]

The fact that Lebron and the Lakers chose Russel Westbrook over DeMar says a lot about their decision making. I don't know a single analyst who would pick Russ over DeMar. That could have been a great fit.

[@richlor92]

Don't think it would've change much because of LBJ and AD injuries.

[@CamPerry]

Yea he's not really a good fit for this team

[@K1ngHardaway]

@@reemaka-bas9333 Bulls won the chip?

[@rolandoc2708]

@@K1ngHardaway No but the Bulls went from a team that wasn’t even projected to make the play-in, by “experts” to making the playoffs and being one of the hottest teams to start the season . Fresh out a rebuild you can take your stupidness somewhere else

[@905north9]

If I remember, the thinking was that Bron and Demar were too similar in terms of their games and both needed the ball in their hands all the time...now how Russ fit any better I have no clue lol

[@jyudat4433]

"and i took it personal"

[@cbrown940]

It's absolutely fantastic that DeMar reemerged in CHI, but I still think if LAK has their big 3 on the floor together... They woulda been talking different about LAK - and Dubs. But that's ancient history, it's all about 22-23 - let's go! (that rhymed)

[@Moetastic]

Derozan being the 3rd option behind Lebron & AD is the best position for him. People would judge him when he was put in a 1a position on the Raptors when he clearly was never that but now when he doesnt have the pressure of being that, he developed his playmaking for instance. He'd blend in better with LA than Russ and Im not saying he's better but Russ has that first option mindset that he's never learned to let go and hasnt developed anything beyond what he would do in OKC.

[@klaytonickinson]

derozan would've probably made Lakers actual contenders. He has the drive and the heart that the lakers don't have. He has the mamba mentality.

[@savethebeez]

Pain