DeMar DeRozan spent three seasons with the Chicago Bulls before moving to the Sacramento Kings during the 2024 NBA offseason. He arrived in hopes of helping the Kings compete for a title alongside De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis. But after a poor start to the season and Sacramento eventually trading Fox, DeRozan now looks to be on his way out as the team regroups again.
Though DeRozan has been one of the most consistent scorers since he entered the league in 2009, reports say that Sacramento will test the trade market for the 35-year-old. While he had a slight drop-off in performance this past season, DeRozan remains a player coveted by teams around the league, even with the $50 million remaining on his contract.
"There has been no shortage of rumbles, since the hiring of Scott Perry as general manager, that Sacramento is expected to gauge the trade market for veteran swingman DeMar DeRozan,” NBA insider Jake Fischer wrote on his Substack.
Here are some of the options available that would be a good fit for DeRozan:
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat have never been shy of going after players in free agency or the trade market. After sending Jimmy Butler to Golden State, DeRozan could be a worthwhile replacement. Miami has Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo under contract for the next two years, and adding a scorer like DeRozan could help them make waves in the East.
Miami's 'Heat Culture' could be a great fit with DeRozan's hard-nosed and rugged play style. They would likely have to send Andrew Wiggins back to Sacramento in return to make the contracts work. But DeRozan heading to South Florida could quickly get the Heat back to their championship hopes sooner rather than later.
Detroit Pistons
After finishing with the worst record in the NBA in the 2023-24 season, the Pistons made a surprising run to the playoffs with Cade Cunningham and a strong supporting cast. While they lost in the first round of this postseason, Detroit looks ready to take the next step, and adding a veteran like DeRozan could be very beneficial.
The Pistons would be looking for another scorer, and they have the cap space to take on a contract like DeRozan's. They would likely need to send back a player like Tobias Harris or Tim Hardaway Jr. in return, along with a few picks in order for the deal to be worth it for the Kings.
Adding a veteran like DeRozan to help pick up the scoring load for Cunningham is relatively reasonable, as Detroit struggled to score in their postseason series against the New York Knicks.
Orlando Magic
Similarly to Detroit, the Magic seem to be missing another scoring option has they have a roster filled with talented young players. They are also set to have the cap space to take on DeRozan's contract, and would undoubtedly welcome his experience.
Orlando was one of the best defensive teams during the regular season, but was ranked the worst offensive team in the league. As they also look to prioritize the quickly evolving Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Jalen Suggs, adding DeRozan could cement them as a top seed in the Eastern Conference.
Possible, But Unlikely Destinations for DeRozan
For nearly the entirety of his NBA career, DeRozan has stated his interest in returning to his hometown of Los Angeles and playing for the Lakers. With Luka Doncic and LeBron James, the team seems focused on winning a championship as soon as possible, and adding DeRozan could be the last piece they need.
The biggest roadblock would be his contract, and the Lakers would likely have to trade Austin Reaves to land DeRozan. Another hurdle would be DeRozan's ball-dominant style of play, and for a team with two other players of that ilk, bringing in another player who needs the ball might not be the best fit.
A return to the Spurs could also be on the table for DeRozan, who spent three seasons in San Antonio. While reuniting with the team seemed more likely a few weeks ago, the team now has the second overall pick in the upcoming draft and looks to be prioritizing youth to pair with Victor Wembanyama rather than veteran experience.
The Atlanta Hawks also seem like a possible landing spot for DeRozan to be paired alongside Trae Young, Dyson Daniels, and Zaccharie Risacher. However, Atlanta's financial situation isn't as flexible as other teams on this list, and landing DeRozan in a trade is likely easier said than done, considering the team's massive upcoming payroll.
DeRozan's Future in The NBA
Last season for the Kings, DeRozan averaged 22.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.4 assists on 47.7% shooting in 77 games. Despite the slight drop from previous years, his scoring has been extremely consistent throughout his career. He has also played in the fourth-most games over the past decade, and has only missed 20 games once in his career.
Recently, he opened up about the struggles he faced this year, as well as coming to grips with the fact that he has limited time left in the league.
“You don’t have many opportunities left to give yourself a chance to compete in the playoffs. That’s all you kind of want at this stage of your career...” DeRozan said in the Kings' end-of-season press conference. “I’m not trying to play another five, six years. You’ve only got so many years. That window closes quick.”
As the offseason comes closer and closer, DeRozan is likely to be a top trade target around the league. He is extremely experienced and has proven to be able to raise the floor of any team he is on, even if it didn't show during this latest and hectic Sacramento campaign.