The Sacramento Kings are planning to explore trade options for DeMar DeRozan this offseason, according to a report from Jake Fischer in the latest Stein Line update.
“The focus in the California capital shifts now to what sort of dealing we could see from the Kings’ new regime. There has been no shortage of rumbles, since the hiring of Scott Perry as general manager, that Sacramento is expected to gauge the trade market for veteran swingman DeMar DeRozan.”
DeRozan joined the Kings in the three-team deal in July 2024 that sent Harrison Barnes to the San Antonio Spurs. DeRozan is owed $24 million in the 2025-26 season and $25 million in the 2026-27 season.
Removing DeRozan from the roster makes sense if Zach LaVine and/or Malik Monk is going to remain on the team so there aren’t three ball-dominant rotation players. Additionally, it would free things up to let the offense run through Domantas Sabonis more and give Keegan Murray additional scoring opportunities, which he needs. That all depends on what happens with the roster of course, but moving DeRozan would probably be better for the Kings and for DeMar, who probably would prefer to be in a better position to compete deep into the playoffs at this stage of his career.