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Other than acquiring Toronto Raptors forward Jalen McDaniels in a trade, the Kings have watched the NBA offseason from the sidelines. However, Sacramento may be gearing up for a headlining transaction any minute now.
The Kings meeting up with Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan, via The Athletic's Shams Charania.
“Sources: DeMar DeRozan is traveling to meet with the Kings in Sacramento this weekend,” Charania tweeted. “The Kings are in serious pursuit of the six-time All-Star, who has begun one-on-one conversations with various team personnel.”
The Bulls are interested in signing and trading the six-time All-Star, but only if they can include a third team to take on salary, via NBA insider Marc Stein.
“Sacramento continues its pursuit of DeMar DeRozan via sign-and-trade and San Antonio has emerged as a potential third-team facilitator, league sources say,” tweeted Stein. “The Kings have chased DeRozan this week and Chicago is willing to facilitate a sign-and-trade but insists on a third team in the deal to take in salary.”
Adding DeRozan to form a “Big Three” with De'Aaron Fox and Damontas Sabonis could lift the Kings into the Western Conference's upper echelon. However, it may depend on how many assets they'd have to give up in return.
How would the 34-year-old fit with Sacramento?
DeRozan could bring a new element to the Kings' offense
Sacramento had an above-average offense last season, ranking 13th in offensive rating and ninth in points per game. Adding DeRozan, who ranked 17th last season with 24 points per game, would open up even more looks for Fox and Sabonis.
DeRozan would give the Kings two top front-court scoring threats, as Sabonis scored 19.4 points per game last season on 59.4% shooting, to go with 13.7 rebounds and 8.2 assists. The Gonzaga alum led the league in boards and was sixth in assists, so he and DeRozan could do damage together with second-chance buckets.
Sacramento would most likely have to give up a role player to fit the Compton, California native under the salary cap, via Bleacher Report's Mike Chiari.
“Assuming DeRozan gets something close to the $27.3 million average annual salary he made during his last contract, the Kings would likely have to part with at least one of Harrison Barnes or Kevin Huerter in a sign-and-trade since they will make $18 million and $16.8 million, respectively, next season,” Chiari wrote.
While parting with valuable depth is never preferable, the Kings have to take a big swing in the trade market to contend with the West's top squads. DeRozan could be the missing piece to the puzzle for Sacramento, who hasn't made a deep playoff run since 2004.
