DeMar DeRozan had plenty of offers from NBA teams during free agency over the summer, but he ultimately decided to head to Sacramento.
“Philly definitely was an option,” DeRozan told Paul George on Podcast P With Paul George. “Lakers was an option always. Clippers was an option. And the Heat was an option too. Those teams, for sure, were real personal, legitimate options that I was considering.”
DeRozan was with the Bulls for the last three seasons, where he averaged 25.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.1 assists over 229 games – only missing three games in that span. Pretty good for a 35-year-old.
DeMar says took a while to eventually sign with the Kings because he wanted to make sure it was the right decision.
One of the biggest reasons that swayed him was the culture that is being built there.
“I was just looking for an opportunity to win at a high level wherever that was going to be,” DeRozan explained. “[Sacramento] came about, and they were showing interest, like real interest. When I sat back and looked at it, and analyzed the team. Great players. Great coach. I just always remember the last couple years of always seeing them light this damn beam and winning and all that.
“For sure got a movement. That’s definitely one thing you always want to be a part of is a contagious culture of an organization that wants to win. When I looked at all that, I just felt like it fit.”
The forward will be playing alongside talent like De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis and is hoping to contribute positively to the team’s offense.
DeMar says he can bring leadership and his skills will hopefully help push the team “over the edge”.
