NBA Rumors: Kings Interested in DeMar DeRozan Contract amid Lakers, Heat Buzz
July 3, 2024
ESPN's Zach Lowe believes the Sacramento Kings are a "sneak" candidate to land DeMar DeRozan in free agency.
"I think the Kings have a move yet to make in the offseason... I think they've sniffed around DeRozan," Lowe said Wednesday on the Lowe Post podcast (23:10). He called Sacramento a "sneak DeRozan team."
The Athletic's Jovan Buha reported Wednesday that the Los Angeles Lakers have "turned their attention" to DeRozan, while the Miami Heat are "slight favorites" to land the six-time All-Star.
DeRozan averaged 24.0 points, 5.3 assists and 4.3 rebounds through 79 games in the final season of a three-year, $81.9 million deal last season with the Chicago Bulls.
Lowe's report echoes recent comments from ESPN's Marc J. Spears, who said Tuesday on ESPN's NBA Today that the Kings "are a dark horse to get DeRozan."
Jake Fischer reported for Yahoo Sports at the beginning of free agency that the Kings remained "active in exploring trade opportunities for Harrison Barnes and Kevin Huerter."
Huerter, who averaged 10.2 points through 64 games, mostly starts, last season, was "receiving a healthy amount of external interest," Fischer wrote.
NBC Sports' KJ Johnson reported Wednesday that sources say the Bulls "are fans of Kevin Huerter."
A package of Barnes, Huerter and draft capital may not be enough to land a player like 27-year-old Lauri Markkanen, Lowe said.
But Lowe seemed to believe that could be enough to get the Kings in talks with the Bulls, a team Johnson reported Tuesday is "open to sign-and-trade possibilities" for DeRozan.
The Kings put together one of the 10 highest-scoring offenses in the NBA behind center Domantas Sabonis last season.
DeRozan could benefit from Sabonis' playmaking as the Kings look to further bolster that offense with an eye on returning to the playoffs next fall.
If DeRozan ends up going to another team instead, however, it would not be the first time the Kings have been tied to a major trade target that did not pan out. Sacramento has been linked with trade candidates including Markkanen, OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam, Zach LaVine, Kyle Kuzma and Brandon Ingram since the beginning of last season.