One player who has been linked to the Warriors over time is DeMar DeRozan, a veteran scorer who can still create offense at will. While the idea sounds appealing on the surface, it may not represent the level of value Golden State is seeking in a potential Kuminga deal, according to NBA insider Brett Siegel.

“But the big question there is, ‘Is that really the type of value and the type of demand that if you’re Mike Dunleavy Jr. that you’re looking for in a Jonathan Kuminga trade?’” Siegel says on Sactown Sports 1140. He adds that the Warriors’ aspirations are much higher and expects them to be aggressive in pursuing a long-term target over the next two weeks.

The Warriors’ alternative option if DeRozan falls through

Despite the speculation, it does not appear that the Warriors are actively pursuing DeRozan. Instead, they are reportedly focused on a player who can contribute both immediately and in the future. According to The Athletic, that profile fits New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III.

“As has been widely reported, Golden State’s strong interest in New Orleans’ Trey Murphy III most certainly remains,” The Athletic notes. The report adds that a deal ultimately depends on whether New Orleans change their stance, with similar considerations applying to Pelicans forward Herb Jones.

Mike Dunleavy Jr. appears committed to ensuring that any move benefits more than just the current season. Murphy’s skill set aligns well with the Warriors’ style of play, particularly his shooting and versatility, but the main obstacle remains the cost required to acquire him.

Ultimately, the Warriors’ primary objective is to land a player who addresses their roster deficiencies while moving on from the Kuminga situation. Realistically, Kuminga has become a persistent challenge for the front office, and any deal could also involve moving veterans such as Buddy Hield and Moses Moody as Golden State attempts to reset its direction.

DeMar DeRozan addressed the media regarding his team’s performance and didn’t hold back when discussing the Lakers. He made a pointed comment about the disparity in free throw opportunities during Sunday’s game.

“It’s crazy. Forty-six free throws to our 18? It seems like we’re getting called for fouls, but on the other end, when we try to be aggressive, nothing goes our way. It’s kinda deflating at times. Twenty-two free throws for (Austin)? Free throws,“ DeRozan remarked after the loss to the Lakers.

Despite a valiant effort to challenge the Los Angeles squad without stars Luka Doncic and LeBron James, the Kings fell short. The team appears to be in the process of finding its rhythm, as it remains a shadow of its potential high-caliber performance expected in the regular season.

Reaves’ stellar performance shines in Lakers’ victory

While the Lakers benefited from a substantial number of free throws, the spotlight of Sunday’s victory was firmly on Austin Reaves. Stepping up in the absence of key players like Doncic and LeBron, who are both sidelined with injuries, Reaves effectively led the team with an exceptional performance.

In an impressive 39-minute outing, Reaves poured in a career-high 51 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, and dished out 9 assists. His dominance was further underscored by his precision from the free-throw line, sinking 21 of 22 attempts as the Kings struggled to contain him and the rest of the Lakers.

LaVine emerging as a key player for Kings

Amid the anticipated impact of Westbrook and DeRozan, it is Zach LaVine who has truly risen to the challenge this season. After his move from the Chicago Bulls, LaVine is determined to make a significant impact with the Kings.

LaVine leads the team with an impressive average of 31 points per game, boasting a 92% free-throw success rate and a 65.8% accuracy on two-point conversions. His stellar stats provide a promising outlook for the Kings, who are eager to make a strong push in this season’s postseason.

“I believe that there is a handshake agreement between DeMar DeRozan and the Sacramento Kings,” reporter Allen Stiles said on Sactown Sports 1140. “If Jonathan Kuminga is acquired by Sacramento, the Kings will get their butts in gear as far as getting DeRozan to another team.”

It’s no secret that Sacramento is one of the most likely landing spots for Kuminga, whose future in Golden State remains uncertain. The 22-year-old forward doesn’t appear interested in staying, given the limited role he’s had under coach Steve Kerr in recent seasons.

On top of that, Kuminga is seeking a long-term, high-value contract — ideally from a team that can offer him a more prominent role. The Kings have emerged as one of the leading candidates alongside the Phoenix Suns.

If Kuminga does join Sacramento, Stiles speculated that it could trigger a domino effect, sending DeRozan to the Miami Heat. “You just take Terry Rozier, two seconds, and it’s essentially a salary dump,” the Sactown Sports 1140 host reasoned.

“There are people in this space — they never want to lose a trade or the perception of losing a trade,” Stiles added. “Obviously you’re not getting a player back that’s as good as DeMar DeRozan, but DeMar DeRozan gets to go to a contender, and you’re gonna get money that’s eventually gonna come off the books — if Terry Rozier even plays.”

In that scenario, the Kings would part ways with a high-level player in DeRozan and receive Rozier plus a pair of second-round draft picks. On the surface, that doesn’t look like a great return, but with Kuminga already in place, it could be part of a larger long-term strategy.

Rozier is under contract for one more season, earning $26,643,031 during the 2025–26 NBA campaign, according to Spotrac. The Kings would need to carry that cap hit for one year, but after that, they’d gain significant financial flexibility — opening the door to build a roster centered around Kuminga.

Meanwhile, the move would be a major boost for the Heat. Rozier hasn’t had a significant impact lately. He started the 2024–25 season as an important piece of the team but quickly fell out of favor with coach Erik Spoelstra. Adding DeRozan to a core that includes Tyler Herro, Norman Powell, and Bam Adebayo could give Miami a compelling new dynamic.

DeRozan, now a respected elder statesman in the league, shared his candid thoughts during a conversation with Carmelo Anthony on the 7 PM in Brooklyn podcast. The discussion turned when Anthony mentioned a story from Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, who recalled a player posting his own highlights on social media while the team trailed by 18 points at halftime.

“This generation? Man, dudes are glued to their phones, so worried about what someone else is saying,” DeRozan said. “I’ve seen guys search their own names on Twitter just to see what people are saying. And I’m like, this is where we’re at now? That never even crossed our minds back in the day.”

He added, “People ask me all the time, ‘Can you play another four or five years?’ But that part of the game—this social media obsession—it drains your energy.”

DeRozan pointed to the psychological weight social media puts on younger players. He noted that many are more concerned with public perception than their own self-confidence, and it’s affecting their mental preparation before games.

“Everybody is so focused on everything but basketball now,” he said. “It used to be about your game, about competing, about winning, about giving everything you had. Now it’s like, ‘What am I wearing?’ Guys are in the mirror fixing this, exfoliating, doing this and that. It’s all about the wrong things.”

The evolution of basketball has created two versions of the modern era: the way the game is played, and the way it is consumed. While players generally appreciate the shift toward spacing and one-on-one play, the increased role of social and traditional media is not always welcomed—especially when it shifts focus away from performance.

DeRozan has earned six All-Star selections during his career and now enters his 17th NBA season. Over that span, he has experienced a variety of team cultures and expectations. He has played for four franchises, including the Toronto Raptors, San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls, and now the Sacramento Kings.

Across his career, DeRozan has averaged 21.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game, consistently proving his value on the floor—even as the off-court environment continues to evolve.

“2012, bro, we always say first Cleveland, Miami, second Cleveland. I always tell people, ‘Miami Bron,’ Oh My God!…He was shooting like 55 percent from the field. He running past your favorite, your fastest point guard, dunking, jumping over people,” stated DeRozan on the Run Your Race podcast.

Before LeBron’s arrival in Miami, the Heat had endured a six-year championship drought. But in his second season, LeBron led the team to a title. He was a dominant force on both ends of the floor. That year, he won his third MVP award. His performance in the Finals also earned him Finals MVP honors. LeBron’s contributions were crucial in the decisive moments of the series, making him the clear leader in Miami’s championship run.

Even David Fizdale, LeBron James’ then-assistant head coach, struggled to find words for his legendary Game 6 performance against the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals: “That was his moment of, ‘Yeah, I’m the greatest player in this league and I’m not letting anybody get in my way of a title.’ We just knew right then…I don’t know what you would call it, but he just went inside himself. … ’Bron was just as calm as I’ve ever seen him.”

Could the 2016 version of LeBron James beat Anthony Edwards? NBA player DeMar DeRozan gives blunt answer

LeBron James has gone through many professional metamorphoses during his career. However, one of his most dominant versions emerged in Cleveland. It happened during his second stint with the Cavaliers, especially in 2016. That year, he combined leadership, physicality, and clutch performances at an elite level.

Due to Anthony Edwards’ breakout season within Minnesota Timberwolves, many often compare him to James. Some even claim the young star could overpower the NBA veteran. However, DeMar DeRozan firmly rejects that narrative giving an interesting explanation.

“I told somebody this the other day like when they was playin’ in the series…They was talkin’ about Bron can’t get it done, Ant (Anthony Edwards) beatin’ ’em. I remember tellin’ a group of people, I said, ‘Most these wouldn’t stand a chance vs. a 2016 Bron.’… People forget the man been doin’ this 22 years man. Somethin’ we never seen in no sport. To be able to dominate this long as he has,” DeRozan said, via Run Your Race podcast.

Despite their current 9-12 record, which isn’t among the league’s worst, the Kings’ performance has fallen short of expectations. Last season, they narrowly missed the playoffs, losing to the Pelicans in the play-in tournament, but showed flashes of strong potential.

In their most recent game, a 127-125 loss to the San Antonio Spurs, the Kings squandered a 14-point first-quarter lead. After Monday’s practice, DeRozan spoke with James Ham about the team’s tough start.

“I mean, it’s always frustrating when you lose, but I think it’s all about how you build character from this and come out of it,” DeRozan explained. “Everybody has those rough patches throughout the season at some point, and we’re just there. We’ve dealt with injuries early on, you know, when we were trying to get a rhythm and everything. It’s just how we come out of this.”

DeRozan remains optimistic despite Kings’ setbacks

Although the Kings aren’t in the best situation, the former Chicago Bulls star believes the team can grow from this rough patch, ultimately emerging stronger.

“It’s frustrating losing, but there’s a lot you can learn from it. There’s a lot of character within that can be built from this, that can give you the competitive nature to come out of this even better,” DeRozan said.

Malik Monk on the Kings’ issues

Malik Monk, who started in the loss to the Spurs, didn’t hold back when assessing the team’s shortcomings. The Kings’ guard offered a bold statement about where the team has fallen short and why their record sits at 9-12.

“It can’t be unlucky when they f— wide open,” Monk said. “Excuse my language, but they just be wide open. We just have too many mental breakdowns, and I feel like we don’t rotate enough when we need to, and that’s why we’re 9-12.”

Despite standout performances from DeRozan and Fox, the game highlighted the Kings’ ongoing challenges. Fox poured in 31 points, but his efforts were overshadowed by the underwhelming contributions of teammates like Domantas Sabonis and Kevin Huerter, who struggled to find their rhythm.

After the game, head coach Mike Brown addressed the team’s struggles during a candid media session. Reflecting on the Kings‘ lack of execution, Brown said:
“We have to embrace what the game plan is. This is two nights in a row where we come out and can’t execute the first play.”

Brown’s remarks resonated with DeRozan, who didn’t hold back when discussing the team’s sluggish starts: “We just gotta pay attention. You’ve got to understand that’s an opportunity for us to come out and get some easy buckets. When we mess that up, it steamrolls into those slow starts.”

Fox echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the importance of execution: “We write it up on the board. We have to go out there and execute the play. Especially for guys who don’t play a lot, if you mess it up, you could come out immediately.“

Kings’ stats against the Nets

Sacramento’s struggles against Brooklyn were evident in their shooting stats. The Kings converted just 9 of 25 three-point attempts and shot a disappointing 64% from the free-throw line (20-of-31), well below their season average.

Domantas Sabonis, a key contributor for the Kings, had another lackluster performance. He managed only 13 points, a steep drop from his usual production. Compared to his previous game, his scoring, field goal attempts, and three-point attempts all declined, raising concerns about his recent form.

Trends in Sacramento’s three-game slide

The Kings’ recent struggles extend beyond individual performances. Over their last three losses, the team has failed to shoot above 50% from three-point range. Against the Clippers, they hit just 20% of their threes (7-of-35), a far cry from their usual efficiency. Free-throw shooting has also regressed, slipping from 73.7% three games ago to just 64.5%.

The road ahead doesn’t get any easier for Sacramento. The Kings face two formidable opponents in the NBA regular season: the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Thunder, led by a resurgent Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, are hitting their stride after a few early-season stumbles.

Meanwhile, the Timberwolves, with Anthony Edwards leading the charge, look to continue their strong campaign. If the Kings hope to turn their season around, they’ll need to address their execution issues and regain their confidence on both ends of the court.

The Kings were major contenders last season, which ultimately culminated in the Boston Celtics’ championship, and the Lithuanian acknowledges that they made certain mistakes that prevented Mike Brown’s squad from achieving better results.

In an interview with clutchpoints.com, Sabonis was decisive about DeMar DeRozan‘s arrival to strengthen the roster for the upcoming season: “I think DeMar is the final piece.”

“I am super excited because he’s a huge name and a big-time player. I am so excited to have him. He is going to make all of us better because of his experiences and just his mindset.”

Additionally, he addressed the main deficit the Kings faced last season: “Everyone is really locked in this summer. We all know our biggest issue last season was consistency,” Sabonis told ClutchPoints. “I think everyone realizes now the mistakes we made and how we can be better.”

Domantas Sabonis next goals with Kings

When asked about his immediate goals in his career with the Kings, the center did not hesitate in sharing his expectations: “At this point in my career, I am only focused on winning. The accolades and personal honors are great, but I want to win and I want to do so with the guys I have grown with in Sacramento,

“I don’t care if I put all of my eggs in one basket, I just want to win. All of that stuff was awesome and I am glad to have experienced it, but we all know that winning is the only thing that matters in this league. I am ready for this challenge.”

Sabonis and his foray into screen time

Sabonis joined LeBron James, Jason Tatum, Anthony Edwards, and Jimmy Butler for a Netflix series that will showcase the everyday lives of these players beyond their club activities.

“As much as everyone wants to say they were in a movie or show, just having this experience with my family and kids made it special,” Sabonis said. “I am excited for my fans to see that when they watch Starting 5.”

When asked about what motivated him to film this documentary alongside NBA stars, the Lithuanian stated: “It was certainly an honor to be a part of a group like that. LeBron, Jayson, Jimmy, and Ant are all the biggest stars, so to be in that grouping is surreal. Doing this for Netflix is huge. For me, it meant a lot to be able to give recognition to the city of Sacramento, the Kings organization, and everything we are building. I thought this was a great opportunity not only for me, but for my team.“

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Edwards was asked to compare NBA eras, and he didn’t mince words, saying, “I didn’t watch it back in the day, so I can’t speak on it. They say it was tougher back then than it is now, but I don’t think anybody had skill back then. Michael Jordan was the only one that really had skill.”

New Sacramento Kings forward DeMar DeRozan addressed Edwards’ remarks during an appearance on Podcast P with Paul George. The two discussed the viral comments, with DeRozan offering his thoughts.

“My take is, listen, Ant is one of my favorite players to watch by far, but even with that, we would never have made a statement like that,” DeRozan said. “Because, at the end of the day, I respect every OG who ever played this game. I would never discredit where the league was 20 years ago because it’s all about elevating the game.”

DeRozan went on to defend players from past generations: “If you look at it, those guys were still incredible. You can’t tell me there weren’t any skillful guys around just because there was an athletic freak like Michael Jordan. Don’t discredit everybody else.”

Paul George reacts to Edwards’ remarks

Paul George was also critical of Edwards’ comments, discussing them during an episode of his podcast, alongside his father, Paul George Sr. “I thought it was kind of disrespectful to the game,” George said. “It was a very immature comment. Anthony Edwards is super talented and has a bright future, but the game has evolved so much—you have to respect those who paved the way.”

Magic Johnson fires back at Edwards

NBA legend Magic Johnson also had something to say after Edwards suggested Michael Jordan was the only “skilled” player of previous generations. Johnson didn’t hold back: “I just never respond to a guy who has never won a championship,” said the Lakers icon. “There’s really nothing to say. He didn’t win a college championship. I don’t even know if he won a high school championship.”

Recently, Sacramento Kings guard DeMar DeRozan, who has faced LeBron countless times on the court, weighed in on which version of James he believes was the most formidable.

Despite never sharing a team, DeRozan and LeBron have built a strong rapport over the years. During a recent appearance on the “Club520podcast,” hosted by former NBA player Jeff Teague, DeRozan didn’t hesitate to name the best version of LeBron James that he’s ever faced.

“I have arguments with people because they always ask me which [LeBron] was the best, and it’s like that Miami Bron and that second Cleveland Bron… Bro, he controlled everything from top to bottom. When you stepped on that floor, it was tough, bro. He’s one of the greats for a reason.”

DeRozan, who has a less-than-stellar record against James, faced him 43 times in the regular season, winning just 12 of those matchups. In the playoffs, the numbers are even more lopsided, with DeRozan only managing two wins out of 14 games.

Jeff Teague also struggled against LeBron

Jeff Teague, the host of the podcast, also has his own tales of woe when it comes to facing LeBron. Over the course of 26 regular-season games, Teague’s teams managed just five wins against James. In the playoffs, it was even worse, with Teague losing all 12 games he played against LeBron.

In a humorous recount of one particular playoff matchup, Teague shared, “I’ve never won a playoff game against him! One time we were up 30. I swear to God, we were up 30. I was playing for the Pacers, game 3. I’m like, ‘I finally beat this dude!’ He’s walking at halftime, and says ‘We good, we good. Y’all, everybody keep your heads up.’”

Teague continued, “They were down 8 in the third quarter. I looked at them and said, ‘It’s over. They’re going to beat us, bro.’ I’m doing everything in my power. [I’m like] Paul [George], shoot the ball man, take us home. I just want one win.” Teague ended the story with a chuckle, still incredulous at how LeBron could turn the tables so easily.

Though LeBron remains a free agent, he’s expected to re-sign with the Lakers, especially with his son Bronny’s arrival. LeBron is even willing to reduce his salary to enable the team to use their full mid-level exception to acquire a top-tier player.

However, the Lakers face a significant challenge: ensuring the Miami Heat don’t swoop in and snatch the player they’ve been eyeing, as mutual interest and transfer rumors swirl.

Who is the player the Lakers and Miami Heat want?

Both teams are reportedly interested in Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan. According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, DeRozan and the Heat have shown mutual interest.

The Lakers had other targets in mind, according to Dave McMenamin, including center Jonas Valančiūnas, who signed with the Wizards, James Harden, who stayed with the Clippers, and Klay Thompson, who joined the Mavericks.

With these options off the table, the Lakers are now focusing on the former Spurs forward. According to Chris Haynes, there has already been contact between the Lakers and DeRozan’s agent.