Grade the Trade Pitch: Kings Move DeRozan to Address Key Roster Needs
With the Scott Perry and Doug Christie era now officially underway, the Sacramento Kings are gearing up for a crucial 2025 offseason.
This will be a defining moment for the franchise, coming off a season that revealed significant weaknesses in their roster. The team is in a position where trading one of DeMar DeRozan or Zach LaVine seems inevitable. Eric Sperlazza of Sports Illustrated has put forward a trade scenario involving DeRozan.
Kings Trade DeRozan to the Pistons
In a recent Sports Illustrated article, Sperlazza proposed a sign-and-trade deal where the Detroit Pistons re-sign Dennis Schröder, then trade him, along with Simone Fontecchio, to the Kings in exchange for DeRozan.
But how would this trade impact both teams?
Sacramento Kings’ Perspective
Earlier, we noted the Kings’ roster issues: too many on-ball creators (DeRozan, LaVine, and Malik Monk) and not enough size, ball handling, shooting, or defense.
By acquiring Schröder, the Kings would add a seasoned point guard with solid defensive abilities. Although Schröder’s career has had its ups and downs, he showed his value in the postseason against the New York Knicks, averaging 12.5 points, 3.7 assists, and shooting 62.5% true shooting while defending one of the league’s top scorers, Jalen Brunson.
Fontecchio, a versatile 6’8” forward, would address the Kings’ need for size, defense, and shooting. He’s an underrated three-and-D player, having posted a 75th percentile Defensive Estimated Plus-Minus in the 2023-24 season and shooting 36.3% from beyond the arc. Despite falling out of the rotation with the Cleveland Cavaliers during their playoff run, he could be a valuable low-cost addition for the Kings.
While the Kings would ideally want some draft picks in return, given DeRozan’s age and specific fit on the team, a trade focused on acquiring functional players with minimal negative assets might be the most realistic path forward.
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