When DeMar DeRozan joined the Kings in the summer of 2024, the team was coming off 48- and 46-win seasons and was looking to take another step toward contention. Instead, the team endured a difficult 2024/25 season that included a head coaching change, a De’Aaron Fox trade, and a sub-.500 record. This season has been even worse, with Sacramento off to 12-35 start and not close to a playoff spot.
While DeRozan isn’t pushing for a change of scenery, the 36-year-old made it clear in a conversation with Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee that he’d like to be playing more meaningful games, especially since he’s not sure how many more seasons he has left in the NBA.
“For me, it’s not like I’m playing another 10 years, so you definitely want to maximize your time and give everything you’ve got left to playing for something,” DeRozan said. “I don’t think that part of it is a secret, whether it’s here or wherever.”
DeRozan has changed teams three times in his NBA career, twice in a sign-and-trade and once in a standard trade. However, he has never been involved in a mid-season deal. That’s a real possibility this season, with the Kings looking ahead to the future and reportedly open to inquiries on most of their veterans, including DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Malik Monk.
“When things ain’t going right, that’s what happens,” DeRozan said of the trade rumors. “When you’re not winning, that’s what happens. It just comes with the game. You’ve still got to go out there, do your job and compete. We’ve still got to separate that part of it, still have a love for the game and still go out there and compete.”
DeRozan continues to be a valuable offensive weapon in his 17th NBA season, having averaged 18.8 points per game on .506/.351/.870 shooting. Those shooting percentages are all well above his career rates. His contract is also relatively team-friendly — he’s earning $24.6MM this season and his 2026/27 salary isn’t fully guaranteed.
Still, there have always been questions about DeRozan’s defense, and his deal does include a $10MM partial guarantee for ’26/27, which would compromise a team’s flexibility to some extent. Those factors could work against the Kings getting a trade offer they like for the veteran wing.
While he waits to see if he’ll be on the move on or before February 5, DeRozan says he’s committed to doing what he can to help Sacramento turn things around.
“I think everybody understands you want to have an opportunity to compete, an opportunity to win, but you have to go about the situation the right way,” he told Anderson. “Granted, it’s tough right now. Nobody wishes to have this record we have, but I’ve always been the one to stick through the hard times. It’s always easy to say you want to be in a better situation, but you’ve got to deal with the cards that are dealt and make the best out of them.”
Sankara 2026 mock draft, vol 2
1. DC- AJ Dybantsa BYU wing
2. Ind- Darryn Peterson KU guard
3. Atl- Caleb Wilson UNC big
4. Sac- Kingston Flemings Houston pg
5. BK- Cameron Boozer Duke big
6. Uta- Mikel Brown, Jr. Louisville pg
7. Cha- Keaton Wagler Illinois guard
8. Mem- Darius Acuff Arkansas pg
9. Mil- Nate Ament Tennessee forward
10. Dal- LaBaron Philon Alabama guard
11. OKC- Braylon Mullins UConn guard
12. SAS- Yaxel Lendeborg Michigan forward
13. Por- Miikka Murinen Partizan forward
14. Chi- Alijah Arenas USC pg
15. Mem- Bennett Stirtz Iowa pg
16. Mia- Hannes Steinbach Washington big
17. OKC- Jayden Quaintance UK big
18. GSW- Ebuka Okorie Stanford pg
19. Atl- Christian Anderson Texas Tech pg
20. Cha- Karim Lopez NZ Breakers forward
21. Min- Thomas Haugh Florida forward
22. NYK- Tyler Tanner Vanderbilt pg
23. Tor- Brayden Burries Arizona pg
24. LAL- Henri Veesaar UNC big
25. Bos- Chris Cenac Jr Houston big
26. OKC- Tounde Yessoufou Baylor wing
27. Cle- Koa Peat Arizona forward
28. Den- Neoklis Avdalas VaTech guard
29. Det- Cameron Carr Baylor wing
30. DC- Patrick Ngongba Duke big
This is definitely the best class I’ve seen in a very long time. Koa & Neo going 27/28 is crazy.
Dybantsa is young Demar DeRozan. Spends all game trying to get to the free throw line and lives in the midrange. I really dislike his game.
Pete will be a superstar. Agreed with you on the draft class. Insanely deep which makes trades less realistic during this deadline season. I really like Cenac if he shoots up on the combine to us. We need to get younger/athletic/BIG on the front line asap. I wouldn’t be mad with this pick, considering he already he’s mocked at 24 on Tank right now.
I wonder if he or others will be on a buy out market? You want to contend prove it.
Agree this being a phenomenal class.
I think Mullins at 11 is a lot of projection. And there’s time I guess but rn I’d be shocked if Arenas comes out, much less goes that high, particularly over players like Steinbach, Peat or Carr. And the talent goes all the way into the mid 40s at this level. There are at least 8-10 more high level talents. Teams with high 2nds will really be paid off for once.
Kuminga to Sac
Derozan, a couple of 2nds & a future pick swap to SF
Dubs get a fairly perfect Jimmy replacement in Derozan. They also get some nice 2nd tier assets in return for giving up a prime, talented wing on a great contract.
Kings get a prime, talented wing on a great contract for pennies on the dollar.
Whoa.. Kuminga had 5 years to establish something in SF. Why would the Kings have to add any draft capital to make that deal?? The Dubs are the ones apparently desperate to move Kuminga.
Kuminga demanded the trade.
> @Shaqfoo said:
> The Dubs are the ones apparently desperate to move Kuminga.
If you get your info from this board alone, sure. But “desperate” doesn’t mean giving him away for inferior value. You can hate him, but Kuminga’s value is established:
1. GSW offered Kuminga 3 years at $25+ million only 3 months ago (at 22 years old), so he must have “established something”. He was 22 years old at the time.
2. Kuminga’s value to the Kings has already been established. THe Kings (owner, GM + coach) met with him in August and offered him the starting PF position and a multi-year deal in the low- to mid-twenties.
I doubt Sac will give up that much. They offered less during the summer. I think they have retreated from that offer.
Kuminga has expiring contract basically with player option. Don’t see Kings attaching 2nd because it is their pick and Hornets who are still not in play in for East and probably going to be play in for a couple more years. Those 2nds can basically be closer to 1st.
Derozan does not play defense so can’t even say a perfect Jimmy replacement.
Demar DeRozan has unrealistic expectations. Bro, you’re not a starting shooting guard or small forward anymore and you make $26 million of a cap. You cannot serve two masters. You cannot serve money and legacy at the same time. If you served legacy, money will always come no matter what you do, even outside of basketball. So if you want to chase 2627 million, you’re not going to be on a championship. Contender because that is not your role anymore. So unless he opts out of his contract for next year, what contender is going to trade for you and what are they going to give up to match 26 million?
I think this is the calm before the storm. Everyone says that there will not be many trades thus year. I think many will happen. Detroit needs the best scorer it can get. New York us not winning with this core. Boston is now 2nd with Tatum on the way with an aggressive new owner. Denver and Minny need another player.