SACRAMENTO, Calif. — On its face, the Sacramento Kings’ offseason was a success.
They re-signed Mike Brown to a three-year, $30 million deal, avoiding a “lame duck” season for the popular head coach who sparked an organizational turnaround upon his arrival in May 2022. They held onto Malik Monk, the super sixth man who was an unrestricted free agent and said he left “$20 million” on the table elsewhere to return. They added an all-time great in DeMar DeRozan, the 35-year-old who says he never would have come if the Kings hadn’t spent these past two seasons rehabilitating the organization’s reputation.
In the wake of that painful finish last season, when they downed the rival Golden State Warriors in a Play-In game only to have their hopes of a second consecutive playoff berth dashed by the New Orleans Pelicans, it was a productive summer for this once-flailing franchise.
But what they didn’t do, and what will now inevitably loom over them during the second stage of this rebuild, is secure the long-term future of the star point guard who has been the focal point of their plans for so long now. De’Aaron Fox’s choice to not sign an extension with the Kings, which was clear as early as late June, came as no surprise to team officials who know full well the 26-year-old guard has serious financial incentive to wait.
If Fox earns a spot on one of the league’s All-NBA teams, he would be eligible for a five-year supermax worth a projected $345 million in new money next summer. By comparison, Fox’s largest allowable extension this offseason was three-years, $165 million.
Yet as Fox told The Athletic on Monday, his choice was about more than the money. It was, he explained, about ensuring these Kings are evolving into legitimate contenders before he decides to sign on for the long term.
“For one, I’m in no rush,” said Fox, who was drafted fifth overall by the Kings out of Kentucky in 2017. “For two, I just want to make sure where we’re at, because people have seen the league — like, turnover of a team can happen in the matter of a month or two or six months. I mean, if we were contending for a championship, (it might be different). Like, obviously, (the Boston Celtics’) Jayson (Tatum) just won a championship or (the Miami Heat’s) Bam (Adebayo), who has been to the finals twice. I’m just using people who are in my class (who have signed extensions). They’ve already kind of been through that, done that. So yeah, they have that security of (having done) that. For me, obviously, we’re continuing to build.”
And therein lies the Kings’ challenge.
Breaking their historic, 16-year playoff drought in 2023 was one thing. But finding a way to take their program to the next level this season in the loaded Western Conference, while persuading Fox to recommit for the long term, is quite another.
“I would love to be here for my entire career, to be on one team, to be in one city, for my entire career,” Fox continued. “It’s not unheard of, but it doesn’t happen a lot, so to be in that category would definitely be great. That’s something that’s amazing. You’re able to obviously build your life, your family, your entire career, in one place. That’s everybody’s dream. No one wants to just be bouncing around teams.
“But I want to make sure that we’re in that position to be competing and competing at a high level for a long time, not just fighting for a playoff spot. Obviously, the way that the West is going, we have to continue to get better as players and as a team, as an organization. And, I mean, I’m not saying I’m not staying or that I am staying. But I would love to be here, and I want to make sure that we’re competing at a high level.”
In a way, Fox’s contract calculus is a reflection of the Kings’ collective goal. After all these decades of futility, and with this group posting back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2006, can they make “Beam Team” believers out of the masses while building a sustainable winner along the way?
The DeRozan domino
Domantas Sabonis remains in communication with his front office during the more urgent days of the offseason. He spent the late part of June and early part of July texting general manager Monte McNair and assistant general manager Wes Wilcox, searching for updates on personnel pursuits.
The Kings explored and missed on some of their more ambitious recent swings. They stepped out of Pascal Siakam talks in February. They were outbid for Alex Caruso before the draft, having dangled the 13th pick that was later used on Providence guard Devin Carter. They didn’t meet the steep Lauri Markkanen asking price. As the clock ticked deeper into free agency, fears remained that a franchise internally sensing it needed an upgrade could be left empty-handed again.
“Then the DeMar thing came up,” Sabonis said. “I’m like, ‘OK, another one (that won’t happen).’ Because nothing was working. ‘Here we go again.’”
On the night of Friday, July 5, Wilcox and McNair nudged Sabonis to reach out to DeRozan. It was late. He figured it best to call him the next day. Sabonis went through his normal workout routine on Saturday and returned home.
“My wife is like, ‘Yo, did you hit him up?’” Sabonis said. “I was going to do it. Then I see he’s already there. He’s at the arena. Then he’s at the game. He’s courtside with everyone. I’m like, ‘Oh, s—.’”
DeRozan, who league sources say explored scenarios with the Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs and Warriors in search of a market value deal, had grown more fond of the Sacramento idea as time went on. His longtime agent, Aaron Goodwin, flew with him from his hometown in Los Angeles to Sacramento, then drove him around the city and suburbs to give him a sense of what the area had to offer.
DeRozan’s time with Kings officials inside the team’s practice facility included a freshly prepared chicken salad dinner, courtesy of the team’s chef, and a new deal. DeRozan, who first learned of the Kings’ interest when they inquired with the Chicago Bulls about landing him at the February trade deadline, would sign for three years and a combined $74 million (the final season is only partially guaranteed). The Kings, well aware that a certain price point was necessary to bring DeRozan to town, would create the necessary salary-cap space by sending out Harrison Barnes, an unprotected 2031 first-round pick swap (to San Antonio), Chris Duarte, two second-round picks and cash (to Chicago) in a three-team deal.
Then came the summer-league celebration inside the Golden 1 Center. Kings owner Vivek Ranadivé, whose strong desire to get a deal done was made so apparent with his repeated pop-ins to McNair’s office during the final meeting with Goodwin, walked DeRozan from the back tunnels to a courtside seat for the game. The crowd roared, with the “Not like Us” anthem that includes a shout-out from his close friend and fellow Inglewood, Calif. native, Kendrick Lamar, playing in the background. Phones caught his entrance. Sabonis saw the footage from afar and fist-pumped. Fox, who was working out with DeRozan on the practice facility floor below when the deal got done inside McNair’s office upstairs, understood what it signified.
DeMar DeRozan just walked into Golden 1 Center with Kings owner Vivek Ranadive to a huge ovation pic.twitter.com/sUC8oY3TCo
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) July 7, 2024
“That’s the most high-profile free agent that’s ever come to Sacramento,” Fox said. “Those things don’t happen with a really bad team. Guys aren’t just gonna go there for the money. So, I mean, it kind of shows the direction that we’re moving in.”
DeRozan confirmed. Without the playoff appearance two seasons ago, and without a continued sense of legitimacy in the Brown era, he wouldn’t have dreamed of joining.
“Not at all,” DeRozan said. “These last two years, the passion, as far as the fan base, the culture, the coaching staff and the players who want to compete and win, it was all there, and it was definitely something I just wanted to be a part of.”
Fox’s warm welcome played a part too.
“It was just him telling me that he can make it easier on me, and me knowing (about) being in that position, and being a closer, being a clutch guy, being a main focal point on the offense,” DeRozan said of their conversations. “When you look at a dynamic player of that sort who wants to win, who’s an All-Star, you go hand in hand. We play in a league now where you can’t do it by yourself. And me feeling like I can fit in, and be a part of what he’s doing and what this organization was doing, it just made the most sense.”
Sabonis is all-in
Not long after he joined the Kings, DeRozan connected with Sabonis. There are reasonable fit concerns between the two on the offensive end. Sacramento’s viability as a playoff threat, in part, will come down to how well they mesh. DeRozan wanted to hit fast-forward on the process.
He set up a full week of 5 a.m. workouts at USC. Sabonis and DeRozan went for about 90 minutes with DeRozan’s trainers and then mixed in Kings assistant coaches Doug Christie and Leandro Barbosa for the last hour, going through team specific actions.
“He’s just super smart, high IQ,” Sabonis said. “I mean, everyone knows he’s a bucket-getter. But when he speaks to you about how he plays — I’ve also seen this in training camp — he’s just manipulating the game.”
Sabonis fell in basketball love. Those around him say his energy and optimism about DeRozan’s fit and the upcoming season soared after the week. DeRozan, who grew up rooting for the Lakers and studying Kobe Bryant’s craft, is all about footwork and angles and craft and tactical conversation, the stuff Sabonis craves.
DeRozan showed Sabonis some specific actions he used with Andre Drummond in Chicago. When DeRozan posts up and draws attention, Drummond would time up a duck-in for a quick pass and layup. They want to recreate that action. Sabonis also said DeRozan has already taught him a trick about his footwork in the post he feels he can implement into his game.
“He tells you one way and you’re like, ‘Wow, he’s picked (Carmelo Anthony)’s brain, Kobe’s brain, everyone’s,’” Sabonis said.
In a way, DeRozan’s addition is about both the actual player and what he represents. A proven veteran with Hall of Fame credentials, and with other options available in free agency, felt good enough about the Kings’ program to come aboard. There was a healthy synergy in the process, too, with the owner, front office, coaching staff and incumbent star players working in concert to make it happen.
If all goes well, there’s a reputational butterfly effect that should make it that much easier to attract impactful talent going forward. What’s more, that sort of forward momentum could also help them secure Fox.
In the here and now, though, it’s DeRozan’s vocal leadership style that has them all so bullish on this new look. Not only is he still among the most productive and skilled players in the game, but he’s another grown-up in the room, so to speak.
“I feel like that’s what we need more,” Sabonis said of DeRozan. “We need more vets around. We’re kind of a young team. Really good players, but at the same time, it never hurts to have a Hall of Famer on your team. I’ve always wanted one of these big-time NBA players on the team for confidence, for backup, for everything.”
The future is now
While Kings officials talk often about the commitment to a long-term future with this group, there is an unmistakable urgency that comes with the present. Fox has just two seasons left on his deal, and league sources say the prospect of him entering free agency in the summer of 2026 remains in play — especially if he doesn’t make All-NBA this season.
The structure of DeRozan’s deal, with only two fully guaranteed seasons, means he’s on the same timeline. Third-year forward Keegan Murray, who remains a beloved young bright spot, will be extension eligible next summer and could be a restricted free agent a year later if a deal doesn’t get done. For better or worse, they’ll have clarity about this core before long.
“I feel like these next two years are big,” Sabonis said. “We all know we’re good. My biggest thing last year was our mentality. Beat the best teams and then lost to the lower seeds the next day. (That) put us in a Play-In situation. Having DeMar here, he’s a vet, he’s not going to let it slide. He’s going to call guys out.”
The Kings’ win total last season was only two shy of the campaign before (46 versus 48), but the end result and the energy that came with it was vastly different. They went from being the third seed in a parity-filled Western Conference to ninth. They went from having two All-Stars (Fox and Sabonis) to none. The city went from celebrating inclusion in the playoff conversation to disappointment that a larger step wasn’t following.
The brightness of their beam, if you will, had noticeably dimmed. And now, with a productive offseason behind them, questions linger about what comes next.
“We don’t want to have our peak season being two years ago and just making the playoffs,” Fox said. “We want to continue to build on that and just continue to try to change this culture. I think it’s changed already, but you want to build a championship culture, and you have to be able to do those things before you even get to the top. … I definitely feel like we have the talent to (contend). But now, it’s, ‘Can we execute that plan?’
Their future depends on it.
— The Athletic’s Danny Leroux contributed.
Required Reading
Sign up to get The Bounce, the essential NBA newsletter from Zach Harper and The Athletic staff, delivered free to your inbox.
(Photo of De’Aaron Fox and DeMar DeRozan: Melissa Majchrzak / NBAE via Getty Images)
