The Sacramento Kings pulled off one of the biggest deals of the 2024 NBA offseason when they acquired DeMar DeRozan from the Chicago Bulls in a sign-and-trade. Star big man Domantas Sabonis is certainly thrilled to have DeRozan on the team and at his basketball camp, he explained how the six-time All-Star will improve their offense.
“I think it’s going to be good for us,” Sabonis said. “It’s going to make us think differently on the court, move differently. Really read each other. We are used to playing one style, but he does something at a Hall of Fame level that we’re going to have to play around and it’s going to make it so much harder for teams to guard us… We can basically score from anywhere.”
Domantas Sabonis talks about how DeMar DeRozan changes/improves the Kings offense.
"It's going to make it so much harder for teams to guard us." pic.twitter.com/gx8cXGuwzX
— Matt George (@MattGeorgeSAC) August 25, 2024
DeRozan certainly does add another dimension to this Kings offense and teams are going to find it tough to slow them down. Sabonis also brushed off any concerns regarding their new acquisition recently turning 35.
“I mean, he doesn’t look (old),” Sabonis stated. “Working with him and how hard he works and how he takes workouts seriously at that age, you definitely can’t tell he’s older. I think he just makes my life a lot easier. I just got to keep doing my job and having him on the court is gonna give me a lot more options. Same thing for him. Very excited, we got some good work in together.”
More Domantas Sabonis talking about his new Kings teammate DeMar DeRozan.
Sabonis shuts down any concern about DeRozan's age, and talks about how much easier DeMar makes his job on the court. pic.twitter.com/ABloSEClCn
— Matt George (@MattGeorgeSAC) August 25, 2024
DeRozan is getting up there in age but remains very effective on the court. In the 2023-24 season, he averaged 24.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game. The veteran finished runner-up for Clutch Player of the Year too.
DeRozan also agreed to a very reasonable three-year, $73.7 million deal and I don’t think there is anything to dislike about this move. That said, do I think acquiring him makes the Kings a serious title contender? Not really.
While DeRozan is a great offensive player, he isn’t all that great defensively. The same can be said about the Kings, in general, too and I think their defense will ultimately prove to be their downfall. At best, I see them making the Conference Finals if they get a bit lucky, but otherwise, their ceiling seems to be the Conference Semifinals.
Domantas Sabonis Hilariously Reacted To Malik Monk Re-Signing With The Kings
While DeRozan is the big new addition for the Kings, they also somewhat surprisingly managed to retain one of their key players. Malik Monk signed a four-year, $78 million deal to stay with the team and Sabonis admitted he was surprised by that.
“I was actually very surprised,” Sabonis said. “I was talking to him a lot during the year and I thought we really lost him, but I’m happy he stayed. I think it’s the best decision for him and for us.”
When asked about what that deal said about Monk’s commitment and willingness to sacrifice, Sabonis had a hilarious response.
“I just think he didn’t want to leave me, that’s the main thing,” Sabonis stated. “I’m happy he’s here. He’s one of the most important players on our team. Having him on and off the court with us has helped us a lot these last three years.”
Domantas Sabonis on Malik Monk re-signing in Sacramento:
“I was actually very surprised.. he’s one of the most important players on our team and having him, on and off the court, has helped us a lot these last two years.” pic.twitter.com/zbugLhRNJA
— Brenden Nunes (@BrendenNunesNBA) August 25, 2024
Monk averaged 15.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 0.6 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game for the Kings off the bench last season. He finished runner-up in voting for Sixth Man of the Year, and it was his injury that somewhat derailed the Kings toward the end of last season.
They lost six of their last nine games to finish as the ninth seed in the West with a 46-36 record and miss out on an automatic playoff berth. The Kings did then beat the Golden State Warriors in the first Play-In game but then lost to the New Orleans Pelicans in the next one to miss the playoffs. With DeRozan, I think it’s safe to say they won’t find themselves in that kind of a position next year.
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