DeMar DeRozan‘s three-year deal with the Kings came in at $73,710,000 in total base salary, with an additional $3MM ($1MM per season) in additional incentives, Hoops Rumors has confirmed. Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link) first reported the details.
DeRozan’s third-year salary of $25,740,000 is partially guaranteed for $10MM, though that partial guarantee would increase to $12MM if he’s named an All-Star in either 2025 or 2026 or to $14MM if he makes the All-Star team in both seasons. That 2026/27 salary would also become fully guaranteed if DeRozan appears in at least 60 regular season games and his team makes the NBA Finals in either of the next two seasons.
Appearing at an introductory press conference on Tuesday, DeRozan explained that he decided to make the move to Sacramento because he views the Kings as a franchise on the rise and they expressed during the recruiting process that they badly wanted him to come aboard.
“The want that they showed going into free agency was amazing. I ain’t going to lie,” DeRozan said, per Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee. “It always feels good to be wanted somewhere and from day one they showed that, so it’s an honor to be able to represent this organization and build on what this organization has been doing the past couple years. It’s something special and I definitely want to be a part of it. I want to be one of the guys who hits the beam.”
Here’s more from around the Pacific:
- The NBA will be resuming its investigation into Kevin Porter Jr. now that he’s back in the league with the Clippers, reports Law Murray of The Athletic (Twitter link). Porter, who hasn’t been on an NBA roster since last October, reached a plea deal in January after facing assault and harassment charges for a domestic incident that took place last September. The NBA will look into that matter and determine whether or not to fine or suspend the 24-year-old.
- Concerns about Kawhi Leonard‘s right knee began to arise after Team USA managing director Grant Hill, U.S. head coach Steve Kerr, and Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank recently watched him work out at the Clippers’ practice facility, sources tell Broderick Turner of The Los Angeles Times. Leonard told reporters over the weekend that the knee – which sidelined him down the stretch in 2023/24 – had improved enough for him to play this summer, but USA Basketball announced today that Kawhi wouldn’t join the team in Paris, while Kerr told Turner that Leonard was “up and down” during the team’s practices in Las Vegas. “I thought the first day he was moving well early, not so much later, and it makes perfect sense because he’s coming off that injury,” Kerr said.
- Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports takes a look at what Monte Morris will bring to the Suns, observing that Morris’ comments suggest he knows exactly what the team needs from him. According to Bourguet, Morris, Kyle Lowry, and Ryan Dunn were Phoenix’s top three targets in free agency and the draft entering the offseason — the team has landed Morris and Dunn, and remains in touch with Lowry.
No chance of winning for DeMar but I think since the Raptors traded him he cares about one thing and that’s his own money.
Like every other player in every other sport. In DeMar’s case, one team has overwhelmed all of the competing offers in each of his two free agency periods. It’s not like he turned down only slightly less to go to a team with a better chance of winning, and it’s also not like he’s going to Detroit or Washington. Kings could easily get into the top 5 or 6 in the West.
No chance of winning? Im not gonna sit here and say that Sacramento is better than the top 4 teams in West but they’re certainly better than the bottom 5-6 teams. All comes down to health down the stretch and in May.
No chance? Kings current starting 5 is Fox, Monk, DeRozan, Keegan, Domas. They certainly have a chance. They also have their first round picks and Huerter to trade as well as their MLE.
Literally the worst defensive starting unit among any team with hopes of winning.
You didn’t watch the end of the season if you believe that. Keon Ellis, who will definitely start with the Demar signing, was an amazing POA defender. Fox led the league in steals. Kings were something like the 4th best defensive team the last month and half of the season when Keon got put in the starting lineup.
He was a loyal player who was discarded and it led to the team winning without him. That would rightly shatter any sense of loyalty he would ever have with teams in the league. He plays well and he wants to be payed for it. Once the team that drafted you trades you, there is no sense of building a winner together. He’s a journeyman now.
The dude wanted to stay in Chicago, they chose to move on without him. Let’s say he took the minimum and went to OKC, Minnesota or Boston to be a backup. What if Shai, Edwards or Tatum were to miss extended time in the playoffs? There’s no way to guarantee he’d get a ring.
Where are you getting that Demar wanted to stay in Chicago? It was pretty obvious in March that he would not be a Bull going forward…
Straight from the source, DeMar said it several times.
April 11th 2024 NBC Sports-
Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan said he is keen on staying in the Windy City for at least a few more years, as he spoke about this with reporters before their win over the Detroit Pistons on Thursday night.
“This is where I want to be,” DeMar DeRozan said via KC Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago. “I love ownership. I love everything about the city and the franchise, top to bottom—the front office, and the staff we have. “It’s one of those places that gives me motivation to see everybody get what they deserve and feel what winning is like again.”
It’s a job at the end of the day, we fans think they should care more about winning than money, but why?
If they win they get a little more money lol
What exactly do you want, all of the players in the league only on the two teams that make the finals? He gets a nice bag and gets to start on a (presumably) playoff team at age 35. Seems pretty good to me.
Wow. What killer instinct. You don’t have the dog in you, like DeMar. Gen Z
So much absolutism these days. Every team has a chance of winning.
You must have gotten a lot of participation ribbons growing up.
Winning games yes…no chance you believe Wiz, Hornets, Detroit, Utah have legit shot at title. Playoffs are best of 7 and NBA is star driven so best always move on. No Cinderellas ever, this isn’t baseball where pitchers get hot and players are streaky.
I love Sabonis but him at 5 you will nit win a championship. He needs to move to 4 and get a center who can defend. Derozen will lift Sac. Now they have two to take a game winner.
Sabonis would look great next to Wemby or AD…
This isn’t 2k, he’s not going anywhere
PHX’s situation likely gives Lowry his last best chance to be the PG on a competitive team. It will be for minimum, but that is likely his market in any event.
I still think Lowry can contribute on a winning team. He shouldn’t give it up just yet.
His salary figure is pretty much right here I expected him to be… just not with the Kings.
Even with it being a clear upgrade over Barnes, unless things just fall their way, I just don’t see them making too much noise. They kind of give me a Pacers vibe. Which is ironic bc of the trading they did. But if Murray makes a huge leap, that could change.. but it’s hard to imagine he even could. Fox, DeRozan, Sabonis… they all gotta eat.
Monk too.
That is why Murray needs to elevate defense and rebound. He is fighting to be a 3rd option but Monk and Derozan are better scorers.
The biggest glaring hole in the Kings Line Up is a #5 to back up Sabonis. Someone who can Rebound and Block Shots, and Len isn’t it. Len is too soft, not a banger in the paint.