Lakers make decision about signing DeMar DeRozan originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Los Angeles Lakers have already had a busy offseason with a bunch of new free agent signings.
Would they consider bringing aboard L.A.-native DeMar DeRozan, too?
DeRozan was cut loose by the Sacramento Kings on Monday and is now available to be signed.
The Lakers, though, are said to not be interested. This is what ESPN’s Dave McMenamin posted on X on Monday evening:
“The Los Angeles Lakers are not considered to be a potential landing spot for veteran guard DeMar DeRozan after he was released by Sacramento in Monday, multiple league sources told ESPN. The Southern California native had dialogue with LAL in the past – notably in 2021.”
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On paper, it does make sense that the Lakers don’t necessarily seem to be a fit for DeRozan.
With Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves already in the backcourt, DeRozan’s midrange game and need to have the ball to score don’t really fit.
He’s still going to be a fascinating pickup for another team, even though he’ll turn 37 later this summer. DeRozan has averaged 21.1 points per game in his NBA career, and he was still at 18.4 points per game in 2025-26 with the Kings.
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The Lakers have already made a big effort to add pieces in spots of need this offseason, and DeRozan wouldn’t necessarily fill any need.
L.A. is losing LeBron James, but DeRozan wouldn’t be a like-for-like replacement for James, anyway.
While it would’ve been a cool story for DeRozan to come home for his final chapter, it doesn’t appear to be happening — at least not with the Lakers.
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