Sacramento Kings

Jae Crowder could be on the move again.

The veteran forward reportedly is scheduled to work out with the Sacramento Kings this week, according to Sean Cunningham of Fox 40 in Northern California.

Crowder, 34, has offered a varied impact for the Milwaukee Bucks in the past two seasons, appearing in just 68 games overall while averaging 6.4 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.

He was called into starting duty 25 times across the 2023-24 season as a fill-in for players like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton when they were injured. But staying healthy was an issue for Crowder himself, as a left adductor injury kept him out of action for two months between mid-November and mid-January.

Crowder told Eric Nehm of The Athletic in January that the injury felt like an uncomfortable "pulling sensation" in his pelvis.

"To the point that, where every time I extend to run, I'm feeling it to the point that in Orlando... I felt like I couldn't move," he continued. "I could not pull my (left) leg up without any type of pain. Like I checked myself out of the game. It got to that point. I went to the back and I was cursing, but I knew I was toasted. I knew this thing had been pulled. I knew this was the worst I had ever felt up to that point."

While Crowder was mostly an afterthought in the 2022-23 season, he played a more important role for the Bucks last year. But the Bucks decided to surround the trio of Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard and Khris Middleton with a new supporting cast.

Before Milwaukee, Crowder had stops with the Dallas Mavericks, Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Utah Jazz, Miami Heat, Memphis Grizzlies and Phoenix Suns. If he impresses enough to earn a contract offer, the Kings will be added to that list.

DeMar DeRozan listed the Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers and Miami Heat as "legitimate" options for him in free agency before he eventually chose the Sacramento Kings.

The 35-year-old, who just finished a three-year stint with the Chicago Bulls, made the remarks to 76ers star Paul George on Podcast P with Paul George:

Kings landed DeMar with a little help from The Beam 🔦 pic.twitter.com/v0Qj0lrueL

— Podcast P with Paul George (@PodcastPShow) September 9, 2024

DeRozan said he was "looking for an opportunity to win at a high level."

He said the Kings have "great players" and a "great coach" but also noted the organization's winning mentality and the fans' support. More specifically, he noticed how the team lights a sharp purple beam above the Golden 1 Center sky after wins.

George said the Kings have a "movement" going, and DeRozan agreed, saying he wanted to be a part of it. He also said he could bring things from a leadership and skills standpoint to put the Kings "over the edge."

DeRozan can certainly do just that. He excelled last year with 24.0 points on 48.0 percent shooting, 5.3 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game.

Sacramento looks great on paper with a new big three of DeRozan, De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis leading the way and Mike Brown as head coach.

The Kings broke a 16-year streak outside the playoffs in 2022-23 and won 46 games in 2023-24 before falling in the Play-In Tournament. With DeRozan aboard, they look like a legitimate playoff contender once again and perhaps a team that could even fight for first in the Western Conference too.

Game 1 with DeRozan in town will be Oct. 24 against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Sacramento Kings point guard De'Aaron Fox is the first signature athlete under the Curry Brand with Under Armour, and details of his first signature shoe were unveiled in a set of photos on Monday.

The images of the Curry Fox 1 showed Fox's new logo, a silhouette of a fox in the shape of the letter D, and also included the logo of Stephen Curry as well as his last name on the lace tips:

A FIRST LOOK at @swipathefox’s first signature sneaker with Curry Brand, the Fox 1 🦊 pic.twitter.com/SH76zM9rwO

— B/R Kicks (@brkicks) September 9, 2024

Fox signed with Curry Brand in October 2023. Per Sneaker News, details of his first signature shoe were announced during an official Under Armour media event alongside Curry, noting that they "would be low-cut, runner-esque, and with a mid-foot strap."

Sneaker News added that Curry Brand will be embarking on a tour of China starting Tuesday through next Monday with both Curry and Fox set to attend, so it's likely that more details about the Curry Fox 1 could be unveiled in the coming days ahead of the official release later this year.

An All-Star selection in 2023, Fox is the face of the Kings franchise. He averaged career highs of 26.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.0 steals last season, the latter of which led the NBA.

With Sacramento and the Golden State Warriors both residing in the Pacific Division, Fox and Curry have been rivals for the past few years. During the 2023 playoffs, Curry helped the Warriors overcome a 2-0 series deficit in the first round to defeat Fox and the Kings in seven games.

Still, the two floor generals share a bond off the court that will continue to grow during Fox's partnership with Curry Brand.

Fans will have to wait until Jan. 5 to see Fox and Curry meet on the court when Golden State and Sacramento face each other for the first time in the 2024-25 campaign.

After joining the Sacramento Kings earlier this offseason, DeMar DeRozan has opened about his decision to play for the club following a three-year stint with the Chicago Bulls.

Appearing on the Club 520 Podcast (starts at 59:45 mark), DeRozan explained that the Kings "fit the mold" of a team that he wanted to be a part of and "just being able to play" with guys like De'Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis, Malik Monk and Keegan Murray.

The Kings acquired DeRozan in a three-team sign-and-trade deal with the Bulls and San Antonio Spurs. He is being paid $74 million over the next three years to help Sacramento get back to the postseason after a disappointing loss to the New Orleans Pelicans in the play-in tournament.

DeRozan will slot into the spot vacated by Harrison Barnes, who was sent to the Spurs in the trade. The six-time All-Star will boost an offense that went from being the most efficient in the NBA during the 2022-23 season with a 119.4 rating to 13th last season with a 116.9 rating.

Head coach Mike Brown's team is still going to be limited defensively, but the five-man unit of DeRozan, Fox, Sabonis, Monk and Murray can score with anyone. Those five players averaged at least 15.0 points per game last season.

Sacramento's ceiling will be determined by how well the defense plays. The floor is going to be high because of the offensive talent in place.

The Kings have posted back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since doing it in eight consecutive seasons from 1998-99 to 2005-06.

The Sacramento Kings will host a handful of free agents for "competitive workouts" this week.

Per KTXL's Sean Cunningham, Isaiah Thomas, Tony Bradley, Juan Toscano-Anderson and Lonnie Walker will partake in workouts as they look to land on a roster.

Thomas, once an MVP candidate, has been trying to find his way back to the league for the past few seasons. After averaging 28.9 points and leading the Boston Celtics to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2017, he was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers before being traded once again to the Los Angeles Lakers.

From there, hip issues led to a decline for Thomas, and he hasn't been able to find a permanent place in the league. Since the start of the 2017-18 season, Thomas has played for nine different teams, none of which he spent a full season with.

The past few years have been marked by stints in the G League and 10-day contracts, and he most recently spent six games with the Phoenix Suns in March and April.

Perhaps returning to Sacramento will mark a new chapter for Thomas. The Kings took a chance on him when they picked him 60th overall in 2011, and they might be willing to do it again this season.

Walker spent the 2023-24 season with the Brooklyn Nets, where he averaged 9.7 points per game. Bradley last played in the NBA during the 2022-23 season and spent last year with the Dallas Mavericks G League affiliate. Toscano-Anderson has spent much of the last few years in and out of the NBA. He signed with the Kings in January but played just 11 games before being waived.

The Sacramento Kings have a pivotal season coming in 2024-25.

The Kings ended a 16-year playoff drought in the 2022-23 season but were unable to relay that into another playoff appearance in 2023-24. This circumstance is a little misleading, however, as the team went 46-36 and were victims of a loaded Western Conference.

Sacramento finished 9th in the West and knocked off the Golden State Warriors before falling to the New Orleans Pelicans in the second round of the play-in tournament.

The Kings will look to avoid a similar fate in 2024-25 and try to take a step towards contention. The franchise has not been out of the first round since 2003-04 and has not reached the Conference Finals since 2001-02.

With changing this narrative in mind, here is a look at the Kings 2024-25 slate.

2024-25 Lakers Schedule Details

Season Opener: vs. Minnesota Timberwolves, Thursday Oct. 24, 10 p.m. ET

Championship Odds: +5500 (bet $100 to win $5,500), per FanDuel

Full Schedule: The full schedule is available on NBA.com.

𝑹𝑶𝑨𝑹 is coming to a city near you 🗣️🦁        
 
Kings 2024-25 Season presented by @kpthrive 📆 pic.twitter.com/prfKGWAygp

— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) August 15, 2024

Top Matchups

Golden State Warriors

The Kings ended the Warriors' season in 2023-24, and the divisional foe will be looking different in 2024-25.

Klay Thompson departed from the Warriors in free agency, and the most notable name joining Golden State is Buddy Hield. Sacramento could have a chance to truly leapfrog the Warriors in the Pacific Division.

However, that will still be easier said than done, as the Warriors still have Steph Curry and Draymond Green and have hopes of returning to former glory. Still, the Kings have developed momentum over the Warriors and will now hope to retain it next season.

New Orleans Pelicans

The Kings should have revenge on their minds when it comes to the Pelicans.

Sacramento fell to a Zion Williamson-less Pelicans in the play-in tournament, and New Orleans only got better. The Pelicans added Dejounte Murray in the offseason and may even keep Brandon Ingram stay around as well.

Sacramento also improved, but both teams will likely be hanging around the play-in tournament once again due to the strong depth within the Conference. With this in mind, winning the season series could be crucial to getting the best seeding for the postseason.

Los Angeles Lakers

The Kings and Lakers did not meet up in the play-in tournament, but both teams were in the same range of the standings. Additionally, sparks will always fly when the in-state rivals clash, and the Kings still would love the opportunity to top the Lakers in any game.

Sacramento outbid the Lakers for DeMar DeRozan and the Lakers were also unable to snag Klay Thompson in free agency. Los Angeles' additions include head coach J.J. Redick and draft picks Dalton Knecht and Bronny James.

LeBron James and Anthony Davis will be the main contributors for the Lakers in 2024-25 and the Kings will hope that they can have their number this season.

Season Forecast

Sacramento has high hopes for 2024-25.

The DeRozan signing, trading for Jalen McDaniels and drafting Devin Carter paints a positive picture for next season and beyond. The new additions join a core headlined by De'Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis and Malik Monk.

This should have the team prepared for a postseason run, but the rest of the West remains strong. Many teams towards the top remain strong, but that does not mean that the young Kings can't crash that party.

A balanced season will be crucial for the team to find success, as will stealing some more games from the top teams in the conference. It will take a valiant effort to ensure a spot in the postseason and beyond, but the talent on the roster should give the Kings a chance to do just that.

Record Prediction: 49-33

It's still the offseason, but Sacramento Kings star DeMar DeRozan might already be in midseason form.

The six-time NBA All-Star scored 54 points as his Mecca Cheaters beat Nationwide Souljas 114-113 in the Drew League championship game Sunday. The Cheaters overcame a 16-point deficit inside the final five minutes.

A sample of the show @DeMar_DeRozan put on to bring his Mecca Cheaters squad back from down 16 points with under 5 minutes left in #TheDrew Championship Game. 🏆#DrewLeague pic.twitter.com/8rm5EAExMO

— Drew League (@DrewLeague) August 12, 2024

DeMar DeRozan game winning free throws

54 points
11 rebounds

Comeback from down 25

Souljas 113
Cheaters 114

First @DrewLeague title for @DeMar_DeRozan 😱😱😱😱😱 pic.twitter.com/DO9zX53cvX

— Law Murray 🤔 (@LawMurrayTheNU) August 12, 2024

The Drew League has long been a summer stop for players around the NBA as they look to stay sharp. DeRozan, a native of Compton, California, has particularly close ties to the Los Angeles-based event. He made his first appearance all the way back in 2005.

The 35-year-old teamed up with LeBron James in 2022 and their combined presence garnered nationwide attention. For DeRozan, that carried a larger significance.

"You telling me the LeBron James just came out here to play?" he said on the Draymond Green Show (via Ryan Taylor of NBC Sports Chicago). "And right across the street is the projects. Right down the street is the neighborhood I grew up in. So, to see this man come up there and play, it's bigger than basketball. It's being an inspiration and a motivation to that community to have light and to keep pushing forward. And that was a positive day that's going to be remembered forever."

Plenty of younger fans will undoubtedly have been left in awe at DeRozan's impressive showing Sunday.

Looking ahead to the 2024-25 NBA campaign, it appears the Kings can expect the 6'6" forward to remain a dynamic scorer in his first year with the team.

Sacramento Kings star Domantas Sabonis is thrilled with the team's marquee addition this offseason and believes DeMar DeRozan will make a meaningful impact.

"I'm excited, he's going to be a big piece," Sabonis told TMZ Sports. "He's huge, he's gonna elevate us. So, can't wait. ... We already got [De'Aaron] Fox, we got Malik [Monk], and now we got DeRozan. We can get a bucket at any time. It makes life a lot easier on the court."

In three years with the Chicago Bulls, DeRozan averaged 25.5 points on 49.6 percent shooting. His performance remained a constant for an organization that was otherwise steadily declining.

Acquiring the 34-year-old isn't the move that puts the Kings over the top. Even in his prime, he simply wasn't that kind of cornerstone talent, and his inability to space the floor has long been a larger issue in the playoffs compared to the regular season.

Still, there's no question the Kings should be better now that they have DeRozan to play off Fox and Sabonis. His fit into Sacramento's offensive scheme should be seamless.

"Over the past six seasons, DeRozan has turned himself into the kind of player who could thrive in a kinetic offense like the one Mike Brown runs in Sacramento," The Ringer's Rob Mahoney wrote. "He's a better passer now, not just in orchestrating plays but in facilitating them. He cuts well off the main action, which will allow him to play alongside De'Aaron Fox, another star creator on the perimeter."

So much discourse around the NBA has become a binary question over whether a team can win a title or at least has a path to one with the right transaction. There is no longer any valor in assembling a roster that has a ceiling of being a top-six contender.

That's why the DeRozan sign-and-trade was so refreshing. The Kings are seemingly content with sitting in that middle ground, and they recognized that consistently making the postseason on its own is a significant improvement over more than a decade of futility.

The Sacramento Kings were reportedly unwilling to add Keegan Murray in trade discussions with the Utah Jazz involving Lauri Markkanen.

According to Anthony Slater of The Athletic, the Kings "went hard" after Markkanen and offered a "substantial enough picks-based offer." However, Sacramento put a deadline on the trade negotiations and protected Murray in discussions.

On Saturday, the Kings acquired DeMar DeRozan in a sign-and-trade deal with the Chicago Bulls that did not involve Murray.

Instead, Sacramento gave up veteran forward Harrison Barnes and Chris Duarte (h/t ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski). The Kings also sent the Bulls a 2031 unprotected pick swap and two second-round selections as part of the agreement.

Sacramento was far from the only potential suitor for Markkanen, as ESPN's Zach Lowe reported on Friday that the Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors, and San Antonio Spurs have all expressed interest in the former All-Star.

While the Kings were reportedly interested in Markkanen, they didn't want to give up Murray after his improved second season. The 23-year-old's averages of 15.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game during his 2023-24 campaign all represented increases from his rookie-season marks.

He also remained an effective long-range shooter, connecting on 35.8 percent of his 6.6 three-point attempts each night. As Sacramento attempts to bounce back from a play-in tournament exit after winning 46 games in the regular season, Murray should still be an important piece of the Kings' starting unit with DeRozan in the mix.

Utah may wind up keeping Markkanen throughout the offseason, as Slater noted on Sunday that there has been "growing skepticism" around the league that Jazz executive Danny Ainge is willing to pull the trigger on a deal.

As for Kings general manager Monte McNair, it's clear that he isn't interested in freely discussing trades that involve Murray.

De'Aaron Fox reportedly played a key role in recruiting DeMar DeRozan to the Sacramento Kings.

Per The Athletic's Anthony Slater, DeRozan sat in on one of Fox's workouts with assistant coach Luke Loucks and "advocated" for him to sign with the Kings at lunch afterward:

"DeRozan watched De'Aaron Fox go through one of his offseason workouts with Loucks, then Fox and DeRozan went to lunch. Fox was a crucial part of the recruitment process, league sources said, and an advocate of the move. That's an important note considering Fox's own contract situation. He has two seasons left on his current deal but has opted not to sign an extension this summer, in part, because he'd like to see how the roster and future take shape."

As Slater noted, Fox's push to bring DeRozan to Sacramento comes as the point guard declined to sign an extension this offseason while he waits to see what happens with the Kings in the future. Fox has two years remaining on his current contract and will be a free agent after the 2025-26 season.

DeRozan joined the Kings on Saturday after a sign-and-trade with the Chicago Bulls and the veteran forward will get a three-year, $74 million contract.

The 34-year-old averaged 24 points, 5.3 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game last year and is looking to stay productive as he joins a new roster.

Sacramento has improved tremendously over the last two seasons, posting back-to-back 40+ win seasons for the first time in almost 20 years, but it is still looking to establish itself as a contender in the West. The move for DeRozan certainly makes the Kings a serious threat to the Western Conference next season.

And by signing DeRozan, the Kings could have made a strong case to Fox to sign an extension soon. The 26-year-old cornerstone of the franchise is likely much more willing to stick around in Sacramento if he believes he has a chance of winning a championship with the team.

It's not clear whether the Kings have what it takes to compete for a championship just yet, but adding DeRozan indicates that they are serious about winning now.