DeMar DeRozan adds obvious benefit (and crushing drawbacks) to the Kings

The Sacramento Kings were eager to trade for DeMar DeRozan. He is unquestionably one of the best scorers in the world. Sacramento slipped from first to 13th in offensive rating last season, and it was the difference between making the playoffs and being bounced in the Play-In Tournament. They hope DeRozan can fix one of their many problems, but returning to the playoffs will not be easy.

The depth of the Western Conference forced the Kings to make a splash. The six-time All-Star is certainly an upgrade. Sacramento has a Big 3 and improved its strengths. DeRozan will get buckets, but is he the right fit for the Kings?

The 6’6 forward is 35 years old, but still elite. He has scored over 20 points per game for 11 straight years. DeRozan is used to getting buckets in the biggest moments, but do the benefits outweigh the negatives?

DeMar DeRozan is one of the best clutch scorers in the world

Surprisingly, the Kings had the sixth-best defensive rating in clutch situations last season. The NBA counts clutch as the game within five points in the final five minutes. It was their offense that struggled to just 107.7 points per 100 possessions, which ranked 18th in the NBA. De’Aaron Fox is an elite scorer, but Sacramento clearly needed a boost in crunch time.

DeRozan finished second to Stephen Curry in Clutch Player of the Year, and the Bulls had a top-five offensive rating in those situations, despite their struggles. Nobody scored more than the newest Kings' 4.6 points per clutch opportunity as he made 48.7 percent from the field and 87.8 percent of his free throws. DeRozan gets to his spots and scores with ease.

The six-time All-Star will improve the Kings offense and help them win close games, but Sacramento should be worried about the fit. They have a lot of offense-first players, which could create some serious issues.

DeMar DeRozan’s defense and outside shooting are problematic

Teams guard DeRozan, but he averages just 0.5 3-pointers made per game for his career. The 35-year-old is best with the ball in his hands. The Kings need Fox to maintain the 36.9 percent he shot from 3-point range last season. If he falls closer to his career average, Sacramento’s top three scorers will all be non-shooters. The floor could get cramped and will limit what head coach Mike Brown can do with his lineups.

Beyond that, the Kings' defense was downgraded from a unit that finished 14th last season. DeRozan is 6’6, but the 35-year-old struggles guarding on the perimeter and lacks the size to matchup in the paint. Fans cannot expect much from his returns, despite his efforts.

If the Kings fail to crack the top ten in offensive rating and are in the bottom ten on the defensive end, they will be back in the lottery. DeRozan must provide a significant offensive boost, and coach Brown needs to create a passable defense with subpar pieces.

Other problems could arise. The King had the best offensive rating in the NBA in 2023 by playing fast. DeRozan is more of a methodical mid-range scorer. How do the two sides adapt to each other?

The Sacramento Kings sent Harrison Barnes, a 2031 first-round pick swap, and 2 2nd round picks out to land DeMar DeRozan. This move needs to work. They went talent over fit, which could backfire. Fans will soon find out.