Six-time All-Star small forward DeMar DeRozan was a sought-after name on this summer's fairly sparse free-agent market.
The 34-year-old is a bit of a throwback player. He's one of the most elite midrange shooters in the game, but doesn't take a lot of 3-point attempts -- now a rarity for a wing. Also unlike a lot of his contemporaries, DeRozan has been impressively durable across most of his 15 NBA seasons thus far, appearing in at least 74 contests for 11 of those seasons.
The USC product missed an average of just 5.7 games during his past three seasons with the Chicago Bulls.
Last year, DeRozan averaged 24.0 points on .480/.333/.853 shooting splits, 5.3 assists, 4.3 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 0.6 blocks in 79 games.
Ultimately, DeRozan agreed to a three-year, $73.9 million sign-and-trade deal with the Sacramento Kings that will keep him under contract through the 2026-27 season.
DeRozan reflected on his decision to move on from Chicago and his various free agent options in a recent appearance with one of the other All-Star free agents to switch teams this summer, Paul George, during the latter's "Podcast P With Paul George."
Read more: Can DeMar DeRozan Finally Win a Championship After Signing with Kings?
DeRozan was named to two All-Star clubs and one All-NBA team during his Chicago tenure. But it became clear to DeRozan that, after two straight seasons of missing the playoffs, the Bulls weren't winning anything anytime soon.
"I had a hell of a time in Chicago," DeRozan said. "Great city, great place. I think I was just looking for an opportunity just to win at a high level, wherever that was going to be. I think coming out of last season, that was my view and my approach on this upcoming season."
According to DeRozan, he almost linked up with George on the Philadelphia 76ers. George signed a four-year, $211.6 million maximum contract after five title-less years on the L.A. Clippers. The Clippers, too, were apparently being considered by the Compton native.
Read more: Paul George To Sign With 76ers On Blockbuster Free Agent Deal
"I was thinking about Philly. Philly definitely was an option. Lakers was an option, always. Clippers was an option. And the Heat was an option," DeRozan said. "I'd say those teams, for sure, were the real, legitimate options for me, that I was considering."
DeRozan explained how he wound up picking the Kings over his other options.
"Sac came about and they were showing interest. Like, real interest," DeRozan said. "So when I sat back and looked at it and analyzed the team, great players, great coach. I just always remember the last couple years always seeing them light the damn beam and winning and all that."
Under head coach Mike Brown, the Kings have gone 94-70 across the past two seasons. The 2022-23 vintage earned the No. 3 seed in the West off a 48-34 record, breaking a 16-year playoff drought. DeRozan joins an offense-focused club that also includes All-Star point guard De'Aaron Fox and All-Star center Domantas Sabonis, as well as perennial Sixth Man of the Year candidate Malik Monk.