Here’s what DeMar DeRozan means for Sacramento Kings, from free throws to fourth quarters
The Kings welcomed one of the biggest acquisitions in franchise history when they held an introductory news conference for six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan on Tuesday at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.
After weeks of rumors and speculation, Kings general manager Monte McNair pulled the trigger on a major move to get DeRozan in a three-team sign-and-trade deal with the Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs.
Fans gave DeRozan a huge ovation in a viral-video moment minutes after the news broke when he took a courtside seat with Kings owner Vivek Ranadive for a California Classic game Saturday at Golden 1.
The Kings now have a Big Three of DeRozan, De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis with a core that includes Malik Monk and Keegan Murray. The front office is still exploring trades that could make Sacramento a bona fide Western Conference contender, but the addition of DeRozan alone might solidify them as a playoff team.
There are questions about DeRozan’s fit with a team that needs size, length, defense and enough 3-point shooters to space the floor, but the upgrade in talent in undeniable. If Mike Brown and his coaching staff can solve for those variables, the Kings could be on the verge of their first 50-win season since 2004-05.
Here’s how DeRozan might fit into the lineup and what it means for the Kings.
Free-throw shooting
DeRozan’s ability to draw fouls and make free throws will help the Kings win games they lost last season.
Sacramento ranked 21st in the NBA in free-throw attempts (20.9) and 30th in free-throw percentage (.745). The Kings calculated they would have won over 50 games and made the playoffs as a top-six seed in the West if they were an average free-throw shooting team.
McNair addressed the issue during exit interviews after the season ended in disappointment with a play-in tournament loss to the New Orleans Pelicans.
“We know we have to be a better free-throw shooting team because there are games we lost this year that, if you don’t shoot 65%, you probably win that game,” McNair said.
DeRozan can solve that problem by himself. He shot 85.3% at the free-throw line last season while ranking fourth in the NBA with 7.7 attempts per game. He was 11th, fourth and eighth in free-throw attempts over the previous three seasons.
Fourth-quarter scoring
The Kings now have the most lethal fourth-quarter scoring duo in the NBA with Fox and DeRozan.
DeRozan led the league with 550 fourth-quarter points last season. Fox was second with 538 points, finishing ahead of LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and Jalen Brunson.
Fox won the inaugural Jerry West Clutch Player of the Year award after taking the Kings back to the playoffs in 2023. DeRozan was the runner-up last season. The Kings could be a big problem for opponents in the fourth quarter with a potential closing lineup of Fox, Monk, DeRozan, Murray and Sabonis.
Size, length, defense
As the roster is currently constructed, the Kings will likely start a lineup of Fox, DeRozan, Murray and Sabonis with either Kevin Huerter, Keon Ellis or Monk at the shooting guard spot.
DeRozan would take the place of Harrison Barnes at small forward. At 6-foot-6 and 220 pounds with a 6-9 wingspan, DeRozan spent most of his time at shooting guard early in his career before moving to small forward over the last five years.
Barnes is 6-8 with a 6-11 ¼ wingspan. Instead of getting bigger, longer and better defensively, the Kings will be smaller with DeRozan at small forward and Murray at power forward. Critics have pointed to a decline in DeRozan’s defensive in recent years, but statistical evidence suggests he is still a better defender than Barnes, particularly when it comes to contesting 3-point shots.
Floor spacing
Pace and space have been staples of Sacramento’s offense since Fox came out of Kentucky as the No. 5 pick in the 2017 NBA draft.
The Kings like to play an up-tempo game with shooters running to the corners while Fox and Sabonis orchestrate a free-flowing system that produced the highest offensive rating in NBA history in 2022-23.
DeRozan is a proven scorer who is considered the master of the mid-range game, but he is a career 29.6% 3-point shooter. He shot a career-best 35.2% from long distance in 2021-22 before dipping to 32.4% and 33.3% over the past two seasons.
The Kings will have to figure out how to create proper floor spacing, but there are some tantalizing possibilities with Fox, DeRozan, Huerter, Monk and Murray cutting and spotting up around a big man who passes the ball like Sabonis.
DeRozan’s age
DeRozan will turn 35 in August, but he seems to be defying Father Time after averaging 24.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists last season. DeRozan has appeared in an average of 74 games over his 15-year NBA career. He has played 76, 74 and 79 games over the past three seasons. He led the league last season at 37.8 minutes per game.
