Former Chicago Bulls All-NBA small forward DeMar DeRozan was not lacking for suitors in free agency this summer.
The 6-foot-6 swingman, a six-time All-Star, and three-time All-NBA honoree, is joining his fourth NBA franchise, the Sacramento Kings, on a lucrative new deal.
Per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, DeRozan’s new deal will be for three years and $73.7 million. In a freshly reported wrinkle, the third season, in 2026-27, is only partially guaranteed, to the tune of $10 million.
According to Stadium’s Shams Charania on a new episode of “The Rally,” DeRozan’s ultimate decision came down to the Miami Heat, who had only their $5.2 million taxpayer’s mid-level exception at their disposal without shedding significant salary, and the Kings. The Compton native’s hometown Los Angeles Lakers sniffed around, apparently, but never actually tendered the likely future Hall of Famer, 34, a formal offer.
“It was really down to the Kings and the Miami Heat, from what I’m told, as far as DeMar DeRozan’s new home,” Charania said. “He really wanted to land in a competitive environment, and also, I’m told, wanted to go back West at the end of the day. The Kings they pushed the hardest, they pushed the fastest, throughout free agency, to get a deal done.”