Sources: Lakers finalizing deal with JR Smith

The market for DeMar DeRozan has been slow to materialize, but the Sacramento Kings have emerged as the most serious destination for him at this point. DeRozan is definitively heading to an exit from the Chicago Bulls after three seasons with the franchise.

“Certainly, DeMar DeRozan has played his last game for the Chicago Bulls,” said Adrian Wojnarowski on Sports Center on Friday. “The one team that has been dug in with him and trying to find a sign-and-trade scenario are the Sacramento Kings. They’ve been talking this week. They’re going to need a third team involved in a sign-and-trade. Chicago, while they certainly are willing to facilitate to help DeMar DeRozan get more than the midlevel exception on a team that doesn’t have space, they don’t want to take back contracts, certainly significant contracts. They’ll need a third team to route a bigger salary to. Those conversations continue. I think there are some other scenarios for DeMar DeRozan, but I think Sacramento right now is the team to watch between now and when the moratorium ends over the next 24 to 48 hours.”

In 79 games last season, DeRozan averaged 24.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 37.8 minutes. DeRozan also increased his three-point attempts per game to 2.85 while shooting 33.3 percent. DeRozan had a PER of 19.6, which is above his career average of 19.0.

DeRozan, is represented by Aaron Goodwin, is coming off a three-year, $85 million deal with the Bulls via his sign-and-trade with the San Antonio Spurs in 2021.