DeMar DeRozan had plenty of suitors during free agency but ultimately agreed to a three-year, $76 million contract with the Sacramento Kings on July 6.
An insightful report about DeRozan’s future with the Chicago Bulls emerged after the franchise traded Alex Caruso to the Oklahoma City Thunder on June 20.
“A source told the Sun-Times late Saturday night that the Alex Caruso-Josh Giddey trade was the final straw in DeRozan’s mind for any sort of return, as the 34-year-old will now use his free agency to shop elsewhere,” the Chicago Sun-Times wrote on July 1.
On Monday, the three-time All-NBA small-forward appeared on Paul George’s “Podcast P” show and revealed that the Los Angeles Lakers were among the four teams on his radar.
“Philly (76ers) definitely was an option,” DeRozan stated when asked about potential landing spots. “Lakers was an option always. (Los Angeles) Clippers was an option. And the (Miami) Heat was an option. I would say those teams, for sure, were the real personal, legitimate options that I was considering.”
Last season, DeRozan averaged 24 points per contest on 48 percent shooting from the field to go along with 5.3 assists. It would have been interesting to watch DeRozan operate under first-year head coach J.J. Redick, but he should be in good hands under Mike Brown’s leadership in Sacramento.
The idea of sharing the floor with LeBron James and Anthony Davis in 2024-25 and beyond was appealing, but there’s a reason why DeRozan opted to bolster the Kings’ roster.
“I just always remembered the last couple years of always seeing them light this damn beam and winning and all that,” DeRozan said during the segment. “That’s definitely one thing you always want to be a part of, is a contagious culture of an organization that wants to win. When I looked at all that, I just felt like it fit.”
DeRozan may be past his prime, but his services will benefit Sacramento. The mid-range specialist has been drilling intermediate jumpers at a respectable clip since he entered the NBA in 2009, and he will be expected to employ that skill in a Kings uniform. He also exudes the confidence, complex shot-making prowess and “right play” mentality necessary to take over games in the final minutes.
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