Is DeMar DeRozan a buyout candidate if not traded?
The The Sacramento Kings recently made a move by trading Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroeder to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for De’Andre Hunter, and many predict more moves could be on the horizon. Several Kings players, including big man Domantas Sabonis, have come up in trade discussions this year as the deadline approaches.
Recently, NBA insider Anthony Slater of The Athletic reported on what the future might hold for the Kings’ veteran guards DeMar DeRozan in the coming days.
“The Kings have no plans to buy out DeMar DeRozan if he’s still on the team at the trade deadline, according to sources,” Slater reported on X, formerly Twitter. “DeRozan is owed $25.7 million next season, but only $10 million is guaranteed.
At this point, it’s unclear exactly what the trade market looks like for DeRozan, who is still a talented shooter but whose skill set isn’t exactly suited to the way the modern NBA is played. It appears that if the Kings can’t get a deal done for him before Thursday’s deadline, he will remain with the team at least through the end of the season.
Meanwhile, the Kings have reportedly had calls with some teams, including the Toronto Raptors, about Sabonis, a talented big man who has struggled with injuries in recent years that may have affected his value. Sabonis’ poor performance in the 2023 playoffs, the Kings’ lone postseason appearance in recent memory, may also give teams some pause in parting with big assets to land him.
Overall, the Kings are still looking to pick a clear direction going forward, currently still with a bizarre mix of role players and aging veterans, without much young talent in the mix.
Either way, the NBA trade deadline is set for Thursday afternoon.
2026-02-04 16:47:00
