Trail Blazers Eye DeRozan as Kings Look to Shed Salary and Reboot
With NBA trade season fast approaching, the Sacramento Kings are firmly in the rumor mill - and for good reason. The franchise is staring down the barrel of a rebuild, but they’re doing it with a cap sheet that’s anything but flexible. That’s why the latest buzz - a potential trade involving DeMar DeRozan and the Portland Trail Blazers - has some real traction.
Sacramento’s Cap Crunch
Let’s start with the numbers. The Kings are in a financial bind, sitting well over the salary cap and hovering just under the first tax apron.
That’s not where you want to be when you’re trying to reset the roster. The main culprits?
Massive contracts for DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Domantas Sabonis.
All three are locked in long-term. DeRozan and LaVine are under contract through 2027, assuming LaVine declines his player option, while Sabonis is signed through 2028. That’s a lot of money tied up in three players - and it’s money that’s severely limiting Sacramento’s ability to reshape the roster.
The Kings aren’t just looking to get younger or more athletic - they’re trying to get out from under these contracts to regain some financial flexibility. Without moving at least one of these deals, Sacramento’s front office is operating with one hand tied behind its back.
DeRozan Drawing Interest from Portland
Enter the Trail Blazers. The latest rumor has Portland showing interest in DeRozan, a move that would make sense for both sides.
The Blazers are heavy on young talent but light on veteran leadership, especially with Damian Lillard out for the season. Jrue Holiday is the only proven vet in the locker room, and adding a player like DeRozan could give this young group a much-needed voice - and a scoring punch.
DeRozan still has plenty left in the tank. He’s a midrange maestro with playoff experience and a reputation as a leader. For a team like Portland, which is trying to bring along a group of promising young players, that kind of presence can be invaluable.
What’s in It for Sacramento?
For the Kings, a deal with Portland could bring back more than just cap relief. The Blazers have a few defensive-minded players that would fit nicely into Sacramento’s long-term plans. Forwards Toumani Camara and Deni Avdija are both known for their defensive tenacity - the kind of players who don’t always light up the box score but make life miserable for opposing wings.
Then there’s Donovan Clingan, a center with elite shot-blocking instincts and serious upside. If the Kings can pry away one or more of those defenders while clearing out DeRozan’s contract, that’s a win on multiple levels: financial, developmental, and strategic.
Sacramento’s Urgency Is Real
The Kings know they can’t afford to wait out these contracts. The longer they hold onto these expensive deals, the harder it becomes to execute a clean rebuild. That’s why they’re open for business - and why no reasonable offer is likely to be turned away at this point.
Whether it’s DeRozan to Portland, LaVine to Milwaukee, or Sabonis to Golden State - all rumored destinations - Sacramento is clearly exploring every avenue. One move could be the domino that sets the rest in motion.
For now, the Kings are stuck in a holding pattern, but the trade winds are picking up. And if Portland decides to make a serious push for DeRozan, it could be the first big shakeup of a trade season that’s just getting started.