"No one wants to go to the Lakers lol" - NBA fans react as DeMar DeRozan heads to Kings in sign and trade deal
The Sacramento Kings have won the DeMar DeRozan sweepstakes, acquiring him via a three-team sign-and-trade deal with the Chicago Bulls and the San Antonio Spurs. As DeRozan returns to the Western Conference, fans have mocked the LA Lakers for failing to acquire the midrange maestro despite their interest.
According to ESPN, the Kings will send Chris Duarte, two second-round picks, and cash to the Bulls. Additionally, they will send Harrison Barnes and an unprotected 2031 pick swap to the Spurs to finalize the DeMar DeRozan trade.
Fans took to X (formerly Twitter) to tease the Lakers for missing out on another free-agent target.
“Damn so no one wants to go to the Lakers lol,” said @kevondsmith.
“Lol the Lakers are allergic to getting free agents,” said @DivvyBet.
Added @_bobbyfoster:
“Lakers can’t get anyone smh.”
Here are other reactions to the Sacramento Kings winning the DeMar DeRozan sweepstakes:
The addition of DeMar DeRozan adds a scoring punch to the Kings, who also have stars De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis.
DeRozan, a six-time NBA All-Star, is coming off a solid season with the Chicago Bulls, averaging 24.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.1 steals per game. Despite nearing 35, he remains one of the top shooting guards in the NBA.
Why DeMar DeRozan joining the Lakers was unlikely in the first place
According to Chris Haynes, DeMar DeRozan’s contract with the Sacramento Kings is a three-year deal worth $76 million, with the first two years fully guaranteed at $59 million, and the third year partially guaranteed.
Last month, Lakers insider Jovan Buha mentioned that DeRozan joining the Lakers was unlikely unless DeRozan made a strong effort to do so.
Buha said the Lakers could only offer the non-taxpayer mid-level exception, which starts at about $12.9 million, significantly less than what DeRozan could earn elsewhere.
While adding DeRozan would provide the Lakers with a much-needed third option from the wing and a proven closer, his perimeter struggles on both offense and defense make him a poor fit.
DeRozan shot 33.3% from beyond the arc in the 2023-24 season.
"My bigger concerns are that he's not a good 3-point shooter, and he's not a good perimeter defender," Buha said. "I think if you're going to be playing on the wing for the Lakers, you need to be at least one of those two, if not both."
"I think in terms of what the Lakers need, if they are adding a third star type, ideally, that player is a plus shooter who can play off the ball more and/or [who is] a better defender. DeRozan doesn't really check either box."
In this free agency, the Lakers have made only minor adjustments to their roster, with the most notable moves being re-signing LeBron James, drafting his son Bronny, extending Max Christie and adding sharpshooter Dalton Knecht.
They have not managed to secure a third star to pair with James and Anthony Davis and help the team go beyond the first round of the playoffs.
More changes have occurred in the coaching staff, with new head coach JJ Redick and assistants Nate McMillan and Scott Brooks joining the team.