How did the Kings manage to bring in DeMar DeRozan ? The rumor had been around long before last weekend's events, but it all came together on Saturday. Sacramento had interest in Lauri Markkanen earlier this week, but negotiations fell through. So the focus has returned to the Bulls' shooting guard/winger.
The player landed at the airport on Saturday morning, and a private driver was waiting for him: Jay Triano, assistant coach of the Kings, but above all DeMar DeRozan's first coach in Toronto.
Because the former Spurs and Bulls wanted to visit the franchise's facilities and also the capital of California before giving his approval. So he spent the day with Mike Brown, Jay Triano and another assistant, Luke Loucks. The latter also made De'Aaron Fox work with a training session and, in the process, the two players had lunch together.
A moment that weighed. Indeed, the playmaker would have been important in the recruitment of the Kings and would have validated the arrival of DeMar DeRozan, according to information from The Athletic. A weight that seems logical since he refused to extend this summer precisely to learn more about the future and ambitions of the franchise.
Kendrick Lamar and audience ovation
As he continued his day, the management finalized the details of the transfer of DeMar DeRozan, who hoped to sign for more than $20 million per season. The Bulls did not want to burden themselves with such a salary, so they had to find a team capable of assuming it. That is where the Spurs, who had space in their salary cap, intervened and recovered Harrison Barnes. To do this, San Antonio requested a “swap” (an exchange) of a first-round draft pick, in 2031, and the Kings also sent Chris Duarte and two “second-round” draft picks to Chicago, in exchange for DeMar DeRozan, who signed a three-year, $74 million contract.
At the end of the day, the latter is satisfied with his visit: he validates the transfer. It is therefore announced around 7 p.m. local time, and this is no coincidence. Because only fifteen minutes after the announcement, DeMar DeRozan can arrive, with the owner of the Kings Vivek Ranadivé, in the corridors of the Golden 1 Center. The new Sacramento player attends a Summer League match, California Classic, under the ovations of the public.
With the soundtrack “Not Like Us”, the hit by Kendrick Lamar (DeMar DeRozan is also in the video), where the latter raps, to sting Drake but also in a premonitory way: “I'm glad DeRoz' came home”. Because, let's remember, DeMar DeRozan is from Compton, California.
| DeMar DeRozan | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2009-10 | TOR | 77 | 22 | 49.8 | 25.0 | 76.3 | 0.9 | 2.0 | 2.9 | 0.7 | 2.3 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 8.6 |
| 2010-11 | TOR | 82 | 35 | 46.7 | 9.6 | 81.3 | 0.9 | 2.9 | 3.8 | 1.8 | 2.7 | 1.0 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 17.2 |
| 2011-12 | TOR | 63 | 35 | 42.2 | 26.1 | 81.0 | 0.6 | 2.7 | 3.4 | 2.0 | 2.6 | 0.8 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 16.7 |
| 2012-13 | TOR | 82 | 37 | 44.5 | 28.3 | 83.1 | 0.6 | 3.3 | 3.9 | 2.5 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 18.1 |
| 2013-14 | TOR | 79 | 38 | 42.9 | 30.5 | 82.4 | 0.7 | 3.7 | 4.3 | 4.0 | 2.5 | 1.1 | 2.2 | 0.4 | 22.7 |
| 2014-15 | TOR | 60 | 35 | 41.3 | 28.4 | 83.2 | 0.7 | 3.9 | 4.6 | 3.5 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 2.3 | 0.2 | 20.1 |
| 2015-16 | TOR | 78 | 36 | 44.6 | 33.8 | 85.0 | 0.8 | 3.7 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 0.3 | 23.5 |
| 2016-17 | TOR | 74 | 35 | 46.7 | 26.6 | 84.2 | 1.0 | 4.3 | 5.2 | 3.9 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 2.4 | 0.2 | 27.3 |
| 2017-18 | TOR | 80 | 34 | 45.6 | 31.0 | 82.5 | 0.7 | 3.2 | 3.9 | 5.2 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 2.2 | 0.3 | 23.0 |
| 2018-19 | SAN | 77 | 35 | 48.1 | 15.6 | 83.0 | 0.7 | 5.3 | 6.0 | 6.2 | 2.3 | 1.1 | 2.6 | 0.5 | 21.2 |
| 2019-20 | SAN | 68 | 34 | 53.1 | 25.7 | 84.5 | 0.7 | 4.9 | 5.5 | 5.6 | 2.7 | 1.0 | 2.4 | 0.3 | 22.1 |
| 2020-21 | SAN | 61 | 34 | 49.5 | 25.7 | 88.0 | 0.7 | 3.6 | 4.3 | 6.9 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 21.6 |
| 2021-22 | CHI | 76 | 36 | 50.4 | 35.2 | 87.7 | 0.7 | 4.4 | 5.2 | 4.9 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 2.4 | 0.3 | 27.9 |
| 2022-23 | CHI | 74 | 36 | 50.4 | 32.4 | 87.2 | 0.5 | 4.2 | 4.6 | 5.1 | 2.5 | 1.1 | 2.1 | 0.5 | 24.5 |
| 2023-24 | CHI | 79 | 38 | 48.0 | 33.3 | 85.3 | 0.5 | 3.8 | 4.3 | 5.3 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 24.0 |
| Total | 1110 | 35 | 46.9 | 29.6 | 84.1 | 0.7 | 3.7 | 4.4 | 4.1 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 2.1 | 0.3 | 21.3 | |
How to read the stats? GM = Games Played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots Made / Shots Attempted; 3pts = 3-pointers / 3-pointers Attempted; LF = Free Throws Made / Free Throws Attempted; Off = Offensive Rebound; Def = Defensive Rebound; Tot = Total Rebounds; Pd = Assists; Fte: Personal Fouls; Int = Steals; Bp = Loose Balls; Ct: Blocks; Pts = Points.
