Now that the Sacramento Kings 2024-25 NBA Season is behind us, it is time to take stock of the players we have on the roster heading into next season. To do this, we need to discuss how they looked this year and how they can build on it in the future. So, over the next couple of days, we are going to go over each key returning player for next year and assign them a grade for their production in 2024-25.
Now, without further ado, let the grading begin.
DeMar DeRozan 2024-25 Season
One of the biggest moves across the league this offseason was the three-team sign-and-trade between the Kings, Chicago Bulls, and San Antonio Spurs that sent six-time All-Star forward DeMar DeRozan to Northern California.
At the time, many pundits (myself included) viewed this as the type of move that could level the Kings up from being first round fodder to a darkhorse contender in the unforgiving Western Conference.
In 2024-25, DeRozan continued with the metronomic production he has become feared and revered for throughout his NBA career. For the 12th straight year, DeRozan eclipsed the 20 PPG threshold, averaging 22.2 PPG on 56.9% true shooting.
Unfortunately, DeRozan also continued his metronomic run of having a questionable statistical footprint. The Kings only had a +1.7 per 100 possession on-court rating with DeRozan on the floor, and they were only 2.3 points per 100 better with him on the floor than him on the bench. These are not the indicators you expect to see from a player of his status and reputation.
The big problem DeRozan has run into in Sacramento is that he is on a team with an incredibly flawed roster. Before the 2025 Trade Deadline, the Kings had a redundancy of score-first guards/wings who didn't offer much by way of size, spacing, or defense with DeRozan, De'Aaron Fox, and Malik Monk. Even after the Kings switched Fox for Zach LaVine, this logjam still existed.
DeRozan continued to be his reliable self this year, playing in 77 of the team's 82 regular season games. And because of that (and his never-ending ability to get a bucket), the three-year, 74-million dollar deal he signed last offseason is still a solid deal. However, his limitations as a player and odd fit on this roster make it so the Kings should entertain moving him this offseason.