Free agent forward DeMar DeRozan and his representation are traveling to Sacramento to meet with the Kings, according to reports from Shams Charania of The Athletic and Chris Haynes of TNT and Bleacher Report (Twitter links).
It’s the latest signal that there’s serious mutual interest between DeRozan and the Kings, as multiple recent reports have indicated. James Ham of The Kings Beat (Twitter link) says there’s “positive momentum” between the two sides, with the in-person meeting giving them a chance to potentially seal the deal.
The Kings don’t have the cap room necessary to sign DeRozan, who’s seeking a salary above the full mid-level exception ($12.9MM), but the Bulls are reportedly willing to work with Sacramento or another team on a sign-and-trade deal to get DeRozan a higher salary. Still, Chicago isn’t far below the luxury tax line and doesn’t want to take on much salary in the transaction, so the two teams need a third club to serve as a facilitator and take on a contract or two from the Kings.
Reporting earlier in the day indicated that San Antonio appear to be emerging as that facilitator, and the Spurs‘ trade agreement with the Hornets – in which they’ll move off of Devonte’ Graham‘s $2.85MM partial guarantee – is a signal that they’re opening up cap room for a specific move.
While Harrison Barnes and Kevin Huerter have been mentioned most frequently as trade candidates for the Kings, they’re not the only players who could serve as outgoing salary-matching pieces in a sign-and-trade for DeRozan. A package of Trey Lyles‘ and Chris Duarte‘s expiring contracts could theoretically work, for instance, if DeRozan’s starting salary is in the $20MM range. To accommodate a higher salary, at least one of Barnes or Huerter would likely need to be included.
Of course, even if the Kings, Bulls, and Spurs have an idea of what a three-team trade agreement would look like, Sacramento would still need to secure DeRozan’s commitment, which is presumably the goal of this weekend’s meeting.
Basically a done deal at this point imo with the Spurs clearing room to be the third team.
Kings really looking to make sure they finish no higher than 9th.
Speaking of the Bulls, has anyone bought up how Andrew Wiggins, Kevon Looney and Gary Payton 2 is a perfect salary match with Zach LaVine yet?
I’m souring to the idea of acquiring of Zach LaVine. I’d rather keep Wiggins Looney and Payton
Why would the Warriors trade their best defensive wing, their best defensive guard, their only backup center for a injury prone player that makes way too much money for his production? This Lavine contract is almost like the Tobias Harris situation in Philly
It’s worse
I’ll agree, Lavine’s contract is terrible. If not for that, there would be quite a few teams putting out offers for him…but that contract is bad.
I like DeRozan, but much more than $20MM at this point of his career (and with basically no other suitor able to offer that) would be surprising.
He was pretty good last year. You don’t get 9.2 win shares and lead the league in MPG at age 34 if you aren’t something special.
Oh Oh ……
Clippers were fools not to use PG to try and get DeM DeR. Definitely could have worked a three way with Bulls, Sixers.
Is it possible for them to get Demar & Ingram?
I guess it can depend on how much Demar signs for, he is not a near max guy. If they don’t have to give up both Barnes and Huerter I think they will try for both.
Why would they do that? That would mean either Derozan or Ingram is coming off the bench…
No
Fox, Demar, Ingram, Keegan, Sabonis
Barnes and Huerter will both be gone but I don’t think they move both in the deal for Demar maybe one and Duarte. The other would be in the Ingram deal.
They were already bad defensively as a team, so I doubt they go for both.
I dont like this deal for Sacramento, Fox and Sabonis are questionable shooters already (though Fox improved a lot). Not only is Derozan not a shooter he is a ball dominant player that is very bad on defense
Huge pickup by Sactown if they can get DD, top 5 clutch NBA player.
Lot of backcourt fire power but scoring not a problem for Kings, defense is. Need to improve rebounding and rim protection. Play Sabonis more minutes at the 4.
For Bulls I love the Giddey pickup, resigning PWill. Huerter or Barnes move to a third team. Keep getting younger.
I think Bulls sell on Vucevic next but I don’t know who’s buying.
vucevic and lavine and then target for flagg
I also like Isaac Okoro for the Kings if they can nab him from the Cavs.
Not a good fit for sure. But it would add talent for modest S&T assets. Where SAC is, that might be enough to go forward.
Let’s see if kings have the guts. Surprised clippers didn’t make a play for Derozen.
Great Bulls org. Keep a guy in Vucavic who looked like he wanted nothing to do with the Bulls (until they paid them then he took the check and continued to look like he wanted nothing to do with the Bulls) and now need to let their better player, DeRozen, go.. Marvelous job “The Chairman 2.0”