DeMar DeRozan is exactly the type of fading star whose availability would have once immediately had the Los Angeles Lakers in a reckless pursuit. The franchise needs to evolve beyond those kind of tactics after Shams Charania confirmed his availability in a recent report.
"Just in: The Sacramento Kings are waiving DeMar DeRozan, making the six-time All-Star one of the top free agents, sources tell ESPN. The sides worked collaboratively on this resolution after exploring trade routes."
Charania alluded to part of the reason DeRozan will inevitably catch someone's attention. The now former Sacramento Kings star has enjoyed a decorated career. One could even argue it will be one that is worthy of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame one day.
Despite the obvious connection as a California kid, there is just no real reason to fit DeRozan into the Lakers' offseason plans. DeMar is still a productive NBA player, and can work situationally across the league. Los Angeles does not provide those circumstances for success.
Chasing DeMar DeRozan would be fool's gold for the Lakers
Do the Lakers have a need at the positions that DeRozan would be filling? Yes they do. Is DeMar the player to fill those forward spots? No, not at all.
By the numbers, DeRozan's 2025-26 campaign was fine. The former loterry pick averaged 18.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game, with shooting splits of 50-32-87.
What DeRozan lacks is a skill set that slips seamlessly into the Lakers' plans. Los Angeles needs more shooting and more defense at those spots in their retool around Luka Doncic. DeMar provides neither of those things to the roster.
DeRozan's refusal to evolve into a 3-point threat is well-documented. It is almost inexplicable that DeMar did not expand his range to evolve with the NBA as the deep ball revolution came around. He was always a knockdown shooter on the middy. Despite being a midrange assassin, stepping out just a few more feet to become a threat from beyond the arc never came to pass.
There is not much to be said about DeRozan's defensive abilities. The Kings had one of the worst defensive ratings in the league last year and that should come as no surprise given the shortcomings of the main guys in Sacramento, including DeMar.
At this stage, DeRozan can still be an effective bench scorer for a team in need of offense. In theory, Los Angeles needs the help there. However, the Lakers would be much better off building a system that can help produce that second unit scoring rather than relying on that one individual to bring it.
To quote an unfortunate meme that has always bee tied to DeRozan: DeMore I say it, DeLess I like it. That applies perfectly for the scenario of Los Angeles bringing him in.
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