DeMar DeRozan Traded to Sacramento Kings in Three-Team Deal

DeMar DeRozan's time with the Chicago Bulls has come to an end as the Sacramento Kings have acquired the 34-year-old free agent guard in a three-year, $74 million sign-and-trade deal. According to reports, Sacramento is sending forward Harrison Barnes and an unprotected 2031 pick swap to the San Antonio Spurs, while also shipping guard Chris Duarte, two second-round draft picks, and cash to the Bulls. This trade solidifies the Kings' roster, forming a Big 3 in the Western Conference with DeRozan joining All-Star guard De'Aaron Fox and All-Star center Domantas Sabonis. DeRozan, a six-time All-Star, is heading into his 16th NBA season and is coming off a successful three-year stint with the Bulls, where he made the All-Star team in the first two seasons and finished second in the voting for the NBA's 2024 Clutch Player of the Year Award.

The move to Sacramento comes after DeRozan met with team officials and coach Mike Brown, who recently signed a contract extension after leading the Kings to back-to-back winning seasons. This marks DeRozan's fourth team in his career, having previously played for the Raptors, Spurs, and Bulls. With career averages of 21.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists in over 1,100 NBA games, DeRozan brings a wealth of experience and talent to the Kings. On the other side of the trade, the Spurs acquire forward Harrison Barnes, adding another veteran presence to their roster alongside Chris Paul and Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama. Barnes, who played 82 games in each of his past two seasons, averaged 12.2 points and three rebounds last season while shooting efficiently from the field and beyond the arc.

The former Golden State Warriors player spent 5 1/2 seasons with the Kings before this trade. As part of the deal, the Bulls receive guard Chris Duarte, a 27-year-old who showed promise in limited minutes last season. Duarte, who averaged 3.9 points in 59 games for the Kings, was acquired by Sacramento from the Indiana Pacers last summer. The multi-team trade signifies a significant reshaping of rosters for all three franchises involved, with each team looking to strengthen its lineup for the upcoming season.