Among the three Kings veterans viewed as possible in-season trade chips, DeMar DeRozan appears to be the one with the clearest path to being dealt before the February 5 deadline.
Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints reports that DeRozan is currently the “most likely to be on the move,” a conclusion shaped largely by the structure of his current contract.
Siegel notes that DeRozan’s deal – $24.6MM for this season with a $10MM partial guarantee on his $25.7MM salary for 2026/27 – positions him as a far more accessible acquisition for front offices compared to Zach LaVine or Domantas Sabonis.
LaVine’s financial commitment is considerably steeper, as he is pulling in $47.5MM this year and holds a $49MM player option for ’26/27.
Sabonis’ contract also presents a heavier burden; after making $42.3MM in ’25/26, he will still be owed $94MM over the two subsequent seasons.
Because of this, DeRozan stands out as the player whose salary situation best aligns with what many teams can realistically absorb.
Siegel points to the Bucks, Clippers, Heat, Trail Blazers, and Grizzlies as possible destinations that could emerge in the DeRozan sweepstakes, though he doesn’t assert that each of those teams has formally pursued him.
Instead, they’re framed as clubs whose needs and structures could conceivably match what DeRozan offers.
As for Sabonis, his trade outlook is clouded by the fact that he’s currently recovering from a meniscus tear.
Any legitimate market for him will require proof of health, and Siegel writes that the Sacramento center is not expected to begin the “return-to-play” phase of his rehab until sometime around Christmas.
That timeline limits the window for teams to evaluate him before the deadline and makes DeRozan an even more natural focal point of trade speculation.
Siegel’s Latest: DeRozan, Sabonis, Wolves, Claxton, Kuminga, Wiggins https://t.co/r0Nk9g2DUC pic.twitter.com/y7mlj73TmB
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) November 28, 2025
