The Sacramento Kings are considering sign-and-trade options for veteran wing DeMar DeRozan, with the potential involvement of a third team, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. DeRozan, an unrestricted free agent, will not return to the Chicago Bulls, attracting interest from multiple teams, including the Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, and San Antonio Spurs. However, the Kings might have the most to offer in a potential deal.
“Certainly, DeMar DeRozan has played his last game for the Chicago Bulls,” Wojnarowski said on SportsCenter, as reported by RealGM. “The Kings have been actively pursuing a sign-and-trade scenario with DeRozan, but they’ll need a third team involved. Chicago is willing to help DeRozan secure more than the mid-level exception from a team without cap space but doesn’t want to take on significant contracts. Therefore, a third team will be necessary to handle a larger salary.”
With the NBA’s moratorium period ending soon, the Kings remain a team to watch in these trade talks. DeRozan, one of the NBA’s top scorers, is not looking to sign for the mid-level exception, which ranges between $12 and $13 million per season.
In the 2023-24 season, DeRozan played 79 games for the Bulls, averaging 24.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game. He shot 48.0% from the field, 33.3% from beyond the arc, and 85.3% from the free-throw line. DeRozan joined the Bulls in August 2021 on a three-year, $85 million contract via a sign-and-trade deal with the Spurs.
As the trade discussions continue, it remains to be seen how the Kings will navigate involving a third team to finalize the deal for DeRozan.
