NBA trade, free agency rumor roundup: Does Caruso trade mean DeRozan will leave the Bulls as a free agent?

Since the NBA Finals ended, teams have been allowed to negotiate with their own free agents and extension-eligible players. Free agency will open in just over a week, and negotiations between teams and other players can formally begin. (Unofficially, negotiations through back channels are already well underway; negotiations are the lifeblood of the NBA this time of year.)

Here’s an update on some of the latest free-agent rumors.

• Could DeMar DeRozan join Chicago in free agency? Bulls trade Alex Caruso to Thunder, another playmaker is being brought back in the form of Josh Giddy to take his place. Chicago is focused on trying to trade Zach LaVine. With all that being said, does DeMar DeRozan want to return to Chicago? This is a big question in league circles, Mark Stein wrote in his Saturday newspaper,

“One of the hottest questions in the league right now is: Will DeRozan be more available than expected in free agency now that the market officially opens at 6 p.m. ET on June 30? Similarly: Would DeRozan also want to return to the Bulls?”

Both DeRozan and the Bulls have publicly stated that they want their relationship to continue, but As NBC Sports Chicago’s Casey Johnson said“This time last year, there was more momentum for Nikola Vucevic to re-sign than for DeRozan in this particular negotiation period before free agency started.”

The 35-year-old DeRozan, who averaged 24 points and 5.3 assists a game last season, is a midrange killer who could help a playoff or contending team like Philadelphia in the right role. If it’s available, there will be suitors.

• Bulls again find the LaVine trade market weak. The Bulls and Zach LaVine are on the same page: It’s time to part ways. Chicago looked for a deal at the trade deadline but nothing came to fruition. Now the offseason is at its peak…the market is still quite cold. Philadelphia 76ers and Utah Jazz, two rumored targets for LaVine, “not much interest” stein reported,

The leading candidate for a LaVine trade is the Sacramento Kings. Sacramento is offering a first-round pick as well as tackles Harrison Barnes and Kevin Huerter, and that could be enough to get a deal done.

• Ja Morant is not yet cleared from shoulder surgery, but will be soon. This isn’t a free agency note, but it’s worth going along with. Morant has been out since January after undergoing surgery to repair a labral tear, and he has not yet been cleared by doctors to return to basketball activities, Dru Hill reports in the Daily Memphian, The good news is that he will be cleared in the next few weeks and will be ready to go to training camp. “I hate being around basketball and not being able to play,” Morant said. “I didn’t get much time. “I can’t wait to make sure I’ll be able to play and get cleared when the season comes.”

• The Warriors are expected to bring back Kevon Looney. The Warriors are trying to do a balancing act of upgrading the roster and creating more playmaking around Stephen Curry while cutting payroll to get out of the second apron of the luxury tax. This put Kevon Looney on the block, as only $3 million of his $8 million contract is guaranteed, and Golden State had until Monday to make a call. However, the Warriors are expected to have their salaries guaranteed, Anthony Slater reports in The Athletic,

They are expected to guarantee Looney his remaining $8 million contract, keeping him in their current plans, though it’s possible they ultimately use his salary to help complete an offseason trade.

• The Mavericks will attempt to trade Tim Hardaway Jr. again, As evidenced during the playoffs, Tim Hardaway Jr. fell out of Jason Kidd’s regular rotation when things got serious. Additionally, Dallas is attempting to trade Hardaway and his expiring $16.2 million deal, Stein reports.

“Finding a new home for Hardaway is a key element of Dallas’ strategy to re-sign Derrick Jones Jr., whose return next season after excelling on a minimum contract this season has been confirmed by Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison.” “Priority 1A and 1B” for Dallas this offseason.