Report: DeMar DeRozan Turned Down Marquee Destination To Sign With Sacramento

DeMar DeRozan made a big splash on the weekend deciding to sign his free agent (sign-and-trade) deal with the Sacramento Kings. But we're now learning that he turned down a big-name marquee team in making that decision, as per insider Shams Charania.

DeMar DeRozan's decision came down to the Kings and the Heat, but he chose to live on the West Coast again, per @ShamsCharania

The Lakers never made a real offer.

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"It was really down to the Kings and the Miami Heat from what I'm told as far as DeMar DeRozan's next home. (But) I'm told he wanted to go back West at the end of the day," reported Charania.

DeRozan is famously out of Compton in Los Angeles, and while he certainly would have considered joining LeBron James in LA with the Lakers, it doesn't sound like they ever made a serious offer.

"The Kings pushed the hardest, and they pushed the fastest throughout free agency to get a deal done... 

"I'm told the Lakers never went beyond just expressing simple interest in DeRozan. There were no offers or tangible conversations with the Bulls on a sign-and-trade deal," said Charania.

The tipping point was when DeRozan visited Sacramento on Saturday and met with team owners and other members of the franchise, including 2023 All-Star and face of the Kings' franchise, De'Aaron Fox. 

In his three years with the Bulls, DeRozan averaged 25.5 points, 4.7 boards and 5.1 assists. He's a six-time All-Star.