The window appears shut on DeMar DeRozan staying with the Chicago Bulls. Why the mutual parting might have a silver lining.

All of those factors combined into uncertainty, something he previously had not voiced when asked about his future in Chicago. That uncertainty has now transformed into action, with DeRozan seeking a spot on a team that might provide a clearer path back to the playoffs.

DeRozan’s path still might require a transaction with the Bulls, who could benefit from his move to a new team through a sign-and-trade deal. But due to their cap situation — barely $18 million of wiggle room before hitting the luxury tax — a sign-and-trade would be a fairly complicated endeavor, likely requiring multiple teams to balance out the finances.

Whether or not DeRozan walks for free, the Bulls will have to answer the same question this season: Was losing him worth it?

DeRozan led the Bulls last season with 24 points and 5.3 assists per game. They can’t replicate that production with their current roster. Without him, the offense will undeniably take a step back.

But there’s a silver lining to DeRozan’s departure: For the first time in two years, the Bulls have a sense of direction.

For the last two seasons, the Bulls did nothing but tread water. The front office called it “continuity,” but the reality was closer to stagnancy. There was no clear identity propelling their roster construction, leaving them to wallow in the muck just outside the playoffs.

Karnišovas has shown an ability to craft a roster around a central vision. That was certainly true with the 2021-22 roster — but that project lasted fewer than 40 games before Lonzo Ball’s injury wedged open the first crack in its foundation, allowing the weaknesses of the team’s construction to seep through.

Now the Bulls are back on track for a new plan. Karnišovas is betting on the promise of young players such as Williams, Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu while recouping draft stock and honing a path for the roster to build year over year. Committing to DeRozan would have meant delaying — or outright denying — this vision in the name of consistency.

So if this is goodbye, it will be both painful and necessary. The Bulls won’t be better this season without DeRozan — but they will have the potential for success that extends long beyond his time in the league.

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