DeMar DeRozan Reportedly Could Emerge as Trade Target for Teams Who Miss on Durant

Sacramento Kings veteran wing DeMar DeRozan reportedly could be an offseason trade target for teams that fall short in their pursuit of Phoenix Suns superstar forward Kevin Durant.

According to NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer, DeRozan is "widely perceived" to be available in a trade, and he is a potential "fallback" option for teams that miss out on a bigger fish.

DeRozan turns 36 in August, but he continues to be a highly productive player who contributes in multiple categories.

Although the Kings disappointed with a 40-42 record and missed the playoffs this season, DeRozan was a bright spot, averaging 22.2 points, 4.4 assists, 3.9 rebounds and a career-high 1.1 three-pointers made per game, while shooting 47.7 percent from the field and 32.8 percent from beyond the arc.

A six-time All-Star and three-time All-NBA selection from his days with the Toronto Raptors and Chicago Bulls, DeRozan is a highly underrated offensive player who has averaged at least 20 points per game in 12 consecutive seasons.

Per Stein and Fischer, the Kings have privately "expressed confidence" to agents that they could be picking as high in the early 20s in next week's 2025 NBA draft. They don't currently own a first-round pick, which suggests they anticipate trading for one.

While aging, DeRozan could likely help the Kings land a late first-round pick from a team searching for an immediate upgrade.

Durant has been the subject of trade rumors for months dating back to the February trade deadline, and it seems all but certain that the Suns will move him after missing the playoffs this season with a 36-46 record.

The 36-year-old Durant is one of the all-time greats with 15 All-Star selections, four scoring titles, two NBA championships, two NBA Finals MVP Awards and one NBA MVP Award to his credit.

He also continues to put up big numbers nearly two decades into his career, as he averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 2.6 three-pointers made and 1.2 blocks per game this season.

During an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show, ESPN's Shams Charania said KD could be dealt in a matter of days, and he mentioned the Houston Rockets, Miami Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves as the teams most focused on trying to acquire him.

It was subsequently reported by The Athletic's Sam Amick and Jon Krawczynski that Durant favors a trade to the San Antonio Spurs over other suitors.

While it is still anyone's guess who will land Durant, Stein and Fischer noted that James Ham of ESPN 1320 in Sacramento recently named Miami as a possible landing spot for DeRozan if it misses out on Durant.

The Heat disappointed this season with a 37-45 record and a first-round playoff exit, but they boast a solid core led by Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo, and DeRozan would be a nice consolation prize if Durant goes elsewhere.