DeMar DeRozan’s long-rumored Lakers homecoming appears to be off the table.
Ryan Ward of SI.com reported, citing ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, that Los Angeles is not viewed as a destination for the veteran forward after his waiver by the Kings. That closes the door on a line of speculation that had followed the Los Angeles native for years.
The Lakers, meanwhile, seem to be taking a different route. Rather than chasing a familiar name, they’ve been focused on reshaping the roster around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves with a younger core. This offseason has already brought in Walker Kessler, Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton and several other younger additions, while LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, Marcus Smart and others are no longer in the mix.
There’s still work left to do. Ward also noted that Jonathan Kuminga remains a name to watch, though any pursuit would likely require some financial maneuvering. Los Angeles is also still hunting for another center after dealing Deandre Ayton.
In Orlando, Nikola Vucevic is back in familiar territory.
More than five years after the Magic sent him to Chicago, the two-time All-Star has returned to Orlando, and he said the choice was straightforward. “For me, being at this stage in my career, it was important to join a team that had a chance to win and a place that would be good for my family,” Vucevic said during his introductory press conference, as relayed by Austin Dobbins of SI.com. “It was a pretty easy decision to come back.”
Vucevic spent nine seasons with the Magic before the 2021 trade that eventually helped bring Franz Wagner to the franchise. Now 35, he won’t be asked to carry the offense the way he once did. Instead, he’ll provide veteran presence and depth behind Wendell Carter Jr.
Brooklyn’s offseason has also drawn positive reviews.
Brian Lewis of the New York Post reported that people around the league believe the Nets quietly put together a strong summer by keeping Day’Ron Sharpe and Josh Minott, adding Keon Ellis, acquiring Julius Randle and moving up in the draft. One NBA agent was especially bullish on the Randle deal, saying, “I actually really like it,” and adding, “(Randle’s) great and will be good with his own team.”
The Nets didn’t land the biggest headline in free agency, but they did come away looking more competitive while preserving room to keep building.
In Other News...
Magic Coach Is Already Raving About One Newcomer Before Summer League
The Magic are getting an early look at their Summer League group, and one newcomer has already drawn plenty of attention from the staff. D.J. Bakker, who will coach Orlandos Summer League team, said the organization likes what it has seen from the former University of South Florida big man, pointing to the kind of competitiveness and physical presence that tend to travel well in July.
For a roster trying to establish its identity before the games even begin, those traits matter as much as any box score line. Bakkers comments suggest Orlando sees more than just a fresh face in camp, with the rookie already giving the coaches reasons to believe he can fit the tone they want to play with once Summer League tips off. [Read more 🡒]
Noah Penda Embraces Bigger Expectations In His Second Summer League
Noah Penda is back in Summer League with a different kind of responsibility this time around, and the sophomore forward is leaning into it. After getting a taste of the regular season as a rookie, he has stepped into a leadership role for Orlandos Summer League group while helping set the tone under a new coaching staff, with the emphasis on preparation, aggression and consistency.
Penda said the challenge now is making sure his game looks the same in this setting as it did during the season, which is no small ask for a young player trying to establish himself. The Magic are also trying to make sure their summer approach matches the urgency of camp, because for Penda and the rest of the roster, the margin for easing up is thin when jobs are on the line. [Read more 🡒]