DeMar DeRozan signed a three-year, $81.9 million contract with the Chicago Bulls last offseason. However, before that deal was signed, DeRozan dealt with uncertainty about his future and self-doubt about his free agency.

The five-time All-Star said that last summer didn't go as planned for him. At one point DeRozan thought he was headed to play for his hometown Los Angeles Lakers. That deal fell through, and that put him in a "dark place".

"Big names always kinda sign in the first day or two. I went a couple days into free agency with still such a question mark. Was I gonna go somewhere on a one-year deal? Was I gonna take the minimum? The narrative of it ... it put me in such a f*cked up place," DeRozan said. "I remember through that whole time it was three, four days I didn't leave out the room. I didn't see the sunset, I didn't see the sun come up ... I was depressed, it put me in a depressed mindset cause I didn't know what the f*ck was gonna happen."

DeRozan said the opportunity with the Chicago Bulls was one he was determined to make the most of.

“When the Chicago thing came around and I made that happen, it was such a relief. But at the same time, it angered me and put me in a very frustrating mental place. I’m about to demolish anything you gotta say about me,” DeRozan said. “I’m not going to say nothing. I’m just going to work my ass off. And I’m going to prove not just for myself but for anybody who feel like they get counted out, they get doubted or get told that they can’t do something.

“My whole career has kind of been based off that. But I never let it bring me completely down. It knocked me down. But I got back up. And for me, that moment of going to Chicago, I just told myself, ‘This is a new opportunity. I’m going to make the most out of it in every type of way.’”

Lonzo Ball was shut down for the season in mid-January due to soreness in his left knee. Ball ultimately had surgery to correct a torn meniscus. At the time it was expected the Chicago Bulls guard would return in six-to-eight weeks, but he ended up missing the rest of the season.

Six months later, the Bulls aren't much more optimistic about Ball's recovery. Chicago VP of basketball ops Arturas Karnisovas was candid about where Ball is at.

“He’s progressing. That’s as much as I can say,” Karnisovas said during the NBA TV telecast. “He’s getting better — probably not at the speed that we would like, but he is getting better. Hopefully he’s going to be ready for training camp, (but) that’s just our hopes.”

Ball had attempted to return last season but had pain as he ramped up his activity level. At that time, it was revealed Ball was also dealing with a bone bruise, which hampered his ability to work out.

Zach LaVine signed a five-year $215 max deal with the Chicago Bulls in free agency this summer. That was expected, but there was a point where it seemed like LaVine might meet with some other teams.

That plan quickly changed, according to LaVine.

‘‘I went into the offseason with an open mind,’’ LaVine said. ‘‘Once I was able to meet with (Bulls GM) Marc [Eversley] and (VP of basketball operations) AK (Arturas Karnisovas) and they came to me with everything that I wanted, there was no other reason for me to go outside and look at any other teams.

‘‘I think that would have been, for me, disrespectful on my end because they gave me everything that I asked for.’’

LaVine also said he's feeling good after offseason surgery.

‘‘Just had a run-of-the-mill knee scope,’’ LaVine said. ‘‘I feel way better. I’ve been rehabbing, working out, playing, lifting, doing all the good stuff... and boring stuff, too.’’

The Chicago Bulls have signed guard Javon Freeman-Liberty to a non-guaranteed training camp contract. The 6-foot-4 guard went undrafted out of DePaul at the 2022 NBA Draft.

Freeman-Liberty averaged 21.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.7 steals per game as a senior. He was a four-year starter, splitting his college years between Valparaiso and DePaul.

Goran Dragic and the Chicago Bulls have agreed to a one-year, $2.9 million deal.

Dragic finished last season with the Brooklyn Nets after he was traded by the Miami Heat to the Toronto Raptors as part of the Kyle Lowry trade.

Derrick Jones Jr. and the Chicago Bulls have agreed to a two-year, $6.6 million deal.

Jones will have a player option for Year 2.

The Chicago Bulls and Zach LaVine have agreed to a five-year, $215.2 million maximum contract extension.

LaVine will hold a player option in Year 5 with the deal.

LaVine has been an All-Star in each of the past two seasons, averaging 24.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists as he also reached the playoffs for the first time in his career. 

Rich Paul and Lucas Newton represent LaVine.