The Los Angeles Lakers have been dealt a significant blow in their bid to strengthen for next season as free agent target DeMar DeRozan has pitched his tent with the Sacramento Kings.
DeRozan snubs Lakers to join Sacramento Kings
Kings have agreed to a sign-and-trade with DeMar DeRozan on a three-year deal, sending Harrison Barnes to the Spurs and Chris Duarte, two second-round picks and cash to the Bulls, per @wojespn pic.twitter.com/LI6vHu8qFw
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 7, 2024
Sacramento Offseason with DeMar DeRozan
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) July 7, 2024
The Kings are $5.1M below the tax and will avoid the threshold once they sign 2 veteran minimum players. pic.twitter.com/7Qd1mnYO0g
In a multi-team deal, the Kings are sending Harrison Barnes and an unprotected 2031 pick swap to the San Antonio Spurs, and guard Chris Duarte, two second-round draft picks, and cash to the Bulls.
Sacramento aims to pair DeRozan with their core of De'Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis, and Keegan Murray to become a more explosive offensive team in the Western Conference.
DeRozan, a six-time All-Star, is coming off an impressive three-year stint with the Bulls, averaging 24 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 5.3 assists last season.
He finished second in voting for the NBA's 2024 Clutch Player of the Year Award. DeRozan met with Kings officials and coach Mike Brown, who recently signed a contract extension, in Sacramento on Saturday.
Brown has led the Kings to back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2006.