Video: DeMar DeRozan Predicts Kings to Make 2025 WCF After Sign-and-Trade from Bulls

DeMar DeRozan has high expectations for his new team.

The Sacramento Kings playmaker was asked for his boldest NBA take for the upcoming season as part of his Wednesday appearance on ESPN's First Take and said his Sacramento Kings will make the Western Conference Finals:

While DeRozan could have predicted his team, which acquired him via sign-and-trade from the Chicago Bulls this offseason, to make the NBA Finals, advancing to the Western Conference Finals would still represent significant progress.

After all, the Kings haven't won a playoff series since the 2003-04 season, when they advanced to the second round. The last time they made the Western Conference Finals was 2002, and they haven't won a championship since they were the Rochester Royals in 1950-51.

Sacramento is coming off back-to-back winning seasons and has high expectations heading into the 2024-25 campaign after the addition of DeRozan.

He gives the team a go-to option in crunch time and someone who has averaged more than 20 points per game in each of the last 11 seasons. Combine that with De'Aaron Fox making plays on the perimeter and Domantas Sabonis proving to be a matchup problem for opposing frontcourts, and the Kings should give teams trouble in the Western Conference.

But that Western Conference is quite deep, which will be a problem when it comes to their chances of advancing as far as DeRozan expects.

The Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves and Dallas Mavericks are all realistic title contenders, while the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors are star-studded playoff threats.

Throw in teams like the Memphis Grizzlies and New Orleans Pelicans potentially improving, and there's only so much available room for the Kings.

Still, DeRozan believes his team is going to surprise this season.