Could DeMar DeRozan be an option for the Lakers?
· Yahoo Sports
The Los Angeles Lakers have a big hole at the starting wing or forward position, and they need plenty of help there if they are to become championship contenders, especially with LeBron James gone.
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They have reportedly been focusing on Jonathan Kuminga, but on Monday, a new wing hit the market.
DeMar DeRozan, a 17-year NBA veteran who is still playing at a high level at age 36, is being waived by the Sacramento Kings, per Shams Charania of ESPN. He averaged 18.4 points and 4.1 assists a game while shooting 49.7% from the field this past season for a Kings team that went 22-60.
Just in: The Sacramento Kings are waiving DeMar DeRozan, making the six-time All-Star one of the top free agents, sources tell ESPN. The sides worked collaboratively on this resolution after exploring trade routes. pic.twitter.com/IsSZXhV4An
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 6, 2026
Instantly, some Lakers fans wondered if he could be an option for the Purple and Gold. But according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN, that is unlikely to happen.
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.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) July 7, 2026
Back in 2021, the Lakers reportedly had genuine interest in DeRozan, who is originally from Compton and played his college basketball at the University of Southern California. But they instead made their infamous trade for Russell Westbrook that summer.
DeRozan has made six NBA All-Star teams and three All-NBA squads. He plays both the 3 and 4 spots but can also handle the ball and facilitate, which would make him a suitable fit, position-wise, for Los Angeles.
L.A. has apparently made a concerted effort to get younger this summer. James, Marcus Smart, Luke Kennard, Rui Hachimura and Jaxson Hayes have all left in free agency, while Walker Kessler, Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton, Sandro Mamukelashvili and Jaden Hardy are incoming. None of those five incoming players is over 27 years of age, but four of those five departing men, other than Hayes, are over the age of 27.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Could DeMar DeRozan be an option for the Lakers?