2 Biggest reasons DeMar DeRozan chose the Sacramento Kings

Without question, the biggest move the Sacramento Kings made this offseason was executing a sign-and-trade for six-time All-Star and three-time All-NBA selection DeMar DeRozan.

In this case, the word "trade" may be deceptive. Unlike with regular trades, a sign-and-trade can't happen without the unrestricted free agent who is being moved agreeing to the trade.*

(*Sidebar: When a player has a No Trade Clause in their contract, a trade can't be completed without their consent – regardless of whether it is a sign-and-trade or regular trade.)

So, that means that DeRozan chose to come to Sacramento. Sacramento, the home of the Kings – a team who is only two seasons removed from the longest playoff drought in the NBA and years of time spent in the doldrums of the league hierarchy.

But why would DeRozan do this? In a recent episode of "The Run" – a series on the Kings' YouTube channel – DeRozan gives two reasons why he chose to come to Northern California.

Reason #1: DeMar DeRozan's one word answer

When asked this very question, DeRozan responded with a simple one-word answer.

"Winning."

It is funny to think that a team that just concluded a 16-year playoff drought could be viewed as synonymous with winning, but DeRozan isn't taking a bad bet here.

The Kings have won an average of 47 games in each of the last two seasons. And with a roster that features guys like Domantas Sabonis, De'Aaron Fox, Keegan Murray, Malik Monk, Kevin Huerter, and Keon Ellis, the team has a real chance of making some noise in the Western Conference now that they have DeRozan.

Reason #2: Domantas Sabonis recruited DeMar DeRozan

While DeRozan's response to that question was limited to that one word, there was a more implicit reason he chose the Kings.

During the summer, DeRozan came to Los Angeles to train with the Kings' star big man, Sabonis, and he was amazed by how well he synergized with the three-time All-Star.

"Sabonis, he wanted to come out to LA to work out with me," DeRozan said. "We spent a whole week together. Just the dialogue, the work we put in – you would think we played together for two years after just a week of working out."

This interaction actually happened after the transaction. So, it technically wasn't the reason DeRozan came to the Kings. But still, one can speculate that DeRozan envisioned an on-court two-man dance with Sabonis when he was giving the deal his blessing.

Regardless of what brought DeRozan to Sacramento, the Kings are glad to have him.