The Sacramento Kings’ offseason raised the team’s expectations when they made a significant splash in the trade pool this summer, acquiring three-time All-NBA player DeMar DeRozan. In an attempt to complement their existing All-NBA-decorated players, Domantas Sabonis and De’Aaron Fox, the Kings have tossed their cards on the table and are ready to contend.
Kings Offseason Addition Will Light the Beam In Sactown
DeRozan Was The Biggest Kings Offseason Addition In Years
DeMar DeRozan has been an All-Star caliber player since entering the league with the Toronto Raptors. Since then, he’s racked up six all-star nods and three All-NBA selections. One of the league’s most efficient scorers and best mid-range shooters, DeRozan’s addition in Sacramento could be precisely what the team needs to make it out of the first round of the playoffs and further.
The Kings conducted a sign-and-trade this offseason with the addition of DeRozan from the Chicago Bulls. This move undoubtedly rescued the six-time All-Star from a bleak and dreary situation. With no shade directed at Zach LaVine, DeRozan has never played with a player who has the skillset that Fox possesses. The teaming up of Fox, DeRozan, and Sabonis injects a new outlook for the upcoming NBA season.
What DeRozan Brings to the Table
The 35-year-old veteran can still hoop, as shown by his 54-point outing in the Drew League this week. The new Kings small forward has lit up the Drew League during the NBA offseason a few times. Moreover, he’s still playing solid basketball on the NBA court. Last season with the Bulls, DeRozan led the team in scoring, averaging 24 points. For his career, he’s averaged 21.2 points. He’s still an efficient scorer, hasn’t seemed to lose his athleticism, and will no doubt challenge Fox to lead the Kings in scoring this coming season.
DeRozan provides knockdown shooting at mid-range and an excellent free-throw percentage. Unfortunately, DeRozan hasn’t experienced any playoff success since his days in Toronto, although that is primarily due to playing on bad to mediocre teams. DeRozan’s playoff fortunes should change now that he’s with Sacramento. It is worth looking forward to seeing how DeRozan and Fox play off each other.
Recent Success Has Made The Kings Competitive Again
In 2022-23, the Kings made the postseason for the first time in a long time. They finished that season third in the West but lost to Golden State in the opening round of the playoffs. Last season, the Kings made the play-in round but were kicked out by the New Orleans Pelicans. It had to be disappointing considering their finish in the standings the previous year. Despite these early playoff losses, the Kings have become competitive again, much like in the early 2000s. Roughly twenty years later, Fox has turned himself into a star player and one of the league’s best guards. Sabonis is one of the league’s best rebounders and defends the paint well. Unquestionably, the Tyrese Haliburton-Sabonis trade has worked out well for both players.
As we creep closer to the start of a new NBA season, the Kings are hoping to again contend for top seeding in the Western Conference. It is a conference that is highly competitive and cluttered at the top though. The addition of DeRozan this offseason only has heightened expectations for the Kings to produce a successful year. DeRozan and Fox should make one of the league’s top offensive pairings. Sabonis will be playing towards All-NBA consideration again. With Malik Monk back and healthy, the Kings have all the tools and players to compete with the top teams in the West.
Making DeRozan & Fox Work Together
DeRozan’s best remaining chance of competing at the highest level is ahead of him in Sacramento. It also means playing in meaningful, competitive games down the regular season stretch and potentially in the playoffs again. The key for Kings head coach Mike Brown will be getting the best out of a Fox and DeRozan pairing. Sacramento can potentially unleash a dynamic, high-scoring offense at the hands of their star players. Considering the other players on the roster, there will be plenty of help. So, light the beam, I say.
