DeMar DeRozan Kings fans experienced a thrilling night at the Golden 1 Center during the California Classic opener. The excitement wasn’t just due to the on-court action but stemmed from a significant front office move. News broke that six-time NBA All-Star DeMar DeRozan would be returning to his home state of California to play for the Kings.
DeMar DeRozan Joins Kings in Landmark Trade
The Kings successfully secured DeRozan in a sign-and-trade deal, which saw veteran forward Harrison Barnes heading to the San Antonio Spurs and Chris Duarte moving to the Chicago Bulls. According to Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report, DeRozan’s contract is worth $76 million over three years, with $59 million guaranteed in the first two years.
DeMar DeRozan’s Stellar Career Highlights
At 34, DeRozan boasts an impressive career, being a three-time All-NBA player. Last season with the Chicago Bulls, the Compton native averaged 24 points per game with a field goal percentage of 48%. His playmaking abilities were evident as he averaged 5.3 assists, alongside his defensive prowess with 1.1 steals per game. DeRozan has also enjoyed successful tenures with the Toronto Raptors and the San Antonio Spurs since being the ninth overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft.
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Strengthening the Kings’ Core
DeRozan will enhance an already talented Kings roster, joining forces with De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis, both of whom were NBA All-Stars last season. Additionally, the Kings have re-signed guard Malik Monk and are focused on developing third-year forward Keegan Murray.
New Jersey Number for DeRozan
Sources have revealed that DeRozan will don the No. 10 jersey for the Kings. This number was previously worn by Sabonis, who switched to No. 11 earlier this year in honor of his father, Hall of Famer Arvydas Sabonis.
Harrison Barnes’ Departure and New Beginnings
Harrison Barnes, 32, departs Sacramento after five impactful seasons where he averaged 14.7 points with 47.2% shooting from the field and 38.7% from three-point range. Barnes played a crucial role in the Kings’ return to the postseason and made significant contributions to the community. The Spurs are now looking to Barnes to bring similar success and leadership to their team, which includes 2024 NBA Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama and future Hall of Famer Chris Paul.
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