The Sacramento Kings have fallen to 4-13, good for second-worst in the Western Conference.
Despite their rather impressive win over the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night, reports have stated that everyone on the team is available for trade except Keegan Murray and rookie Nique Clifford, who has looked solid so far.
Given that the Kings are a more clogged and aged Chicago Bulls team with DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine, they aren’t headed for greatness, or even being average for that matter. Sacramento fired their General Manager, Monte McNair, back in April of this year, and fired now New York Knicks Head Coach Mike Brown just five months before that. It was really the Brown firing that pushed De’Aaron Fox out the door, as he refused to play for another coach.
Sacramento, who should’ve begun their rebuild right in that moment, decided to take on LaVine and his $48 million a year contract, and pair him up with DeRozan again. Now, just after less than a season and a half with the team, the Los Angeles Clippers are taking interest in DeRozan after the news that Sacramento is looking to blow it up.
DeRozan’s value has diminished since his days in Chicago, but if he makes sense for any team, it would be the Clippers. After Bradley Beal went down with a season-ending injury, the team is looking for another scoring threat. DeRozan could fill the void of Beal’s scoring, which was decent, and provide about the same defensive pressure, which is none.
Nonetheless, the Clippers could match DeRozan’s two-year salary by trading former King Bogdan Bogdanović, Yanic Konan Niederhäuser, and Jordan Miller, and adding on either their 2026 second-round pick or their 2031 second-round pick.
Despite DeRozan’s declining value, he could still play an important role on a championship contender, like the Clippers are trying to be. DeRozan would make for a great third or fourth option, depending on how you view Ivica Zubac, and could be another ball handler and go-to option down the stretch.
Los Angeles likely wouldn’t mind giving up their rookie Niederhäuser, considering he is the only youth they have on the team and hasn’t gotten many real minutes with the team yet. If and when the Kings decide to clear house, the Clippers will be waiting to make their offer at DeMar DeRozan.
More NBA: Perfect Knicks trade to stay competitive while Jalen Brunson recovers from injury