The Kings are reportedly open to trading DeMar DeRozan and their other high-priced veterans. Chris Mannix of SI.com recently suggested DeRozan was a “strong” buyout candidate if he remains in Sacramento past Thursday’s deadline.
However, team sources have emphatically denied that’s the case, according to Anthony Slater of ESPN.com, who reports that the Kings have “zero plans” to buy out the six-time All-Star if he isn’t moved by tomorrow. League sources tell Slater the subject hasn’t even been broached with DeRozan’s camp.
A 36-year-old wing, DeRozan is earning $24.6MM this season and $25.7MM in 2026/27, but only $10MM of his salary for next season is guaranteed. As cap expert Yossi Gozlan observes (via Twitter), it doesn’t make sense for DeRozan to agree to a buyout, since it would remove the possibility of his partial guarantee being increased in the summer as a part of a trade.
According to Slater, Sacramento isn’t in a rush to move DeRozan right now, since the team can wait until the offseason to look for a trade or perhaps decide it’s best to part ways.
DeRozan has publicly said he isn’t pushing for a trade, but he has also made it clear that he’d prefer to be playing in more meaningful games at this stage in his career. The Kings are currently 12-39, narrowly holding the worst record in the NBA.
Slater hears DeRozan has remained a positive presence on the team and has earned praise from teammates, coaches and the front office for his professionalism.
He has another year, pretty rare to buyout. That would also mean teams will just wait.
Seems pretty stupid to buy him out.
Why did that Chris Mannix come up with such a stupid idea??
Only if DeRozan would give up 15-20 million the Kings would probably be interested and that is not going to happen…
If the Heat pull the miracle and land both Giannis and Morant somehow…. DeRozan would be the PERFECT replacement for Andrew Wiggins on the Heat… just putting that out there
Sabonis and derozan to Toronto
Barrett and morant to the kings
JP, plus picks and salary filler to memphis
Hope the Clippers come back to him,
Bogi and DJJ for DeRozan
Garland DeRozan Kawhi Collins Zu
Dunn … Miller Batum BLopez
Need a bench scorer for some impact but that’s a tidy team
Clippers should get him