There are stories across the Sacramento Kings have expressed curiosity in buying Celtics guard Jrue Vacation.
James Ham, who covers the Kings for TheKingsBeat.com, stated that Sacramento does have curiosity within the now 35-year-old guard.
“The Kings checked in on (Vacation) and wished to see what the value is price and every thing like that. From my understanding Boston has higher presents than what the Kings are providing.”
Let’s dwell in a world the place the Celtics and Kings do agree on a Jrue Vacation commerce and the return is DeMar DeRozan. If the Celtics actually do have higher presents than that, possibly the Kings throw within the 2027 Spurs first spherical decide or a couple of 2nd rounders.
A Vacation for DeRozan one for one swap works whether it is accomplished by July 1st. If not, the Kings would wish so as to add one other participant as a result of the deal can be $150,000 from working for the 2025-26 season. Because of this, if there may be going to be a deal, it ought to happen quickly.
This deal would get the Celtics to $13.3 million over the 2nd apron, which they should get beneath, as I mentioned in my Sam Hauser story from final week.
DeRozan’s slot in Boston is one thing that might be enjoyable to see the way it performs out.
DeRozan is a 6-time All-Star and a 3-time All-NBA participant. He can flat out rating the ball, as he has scored a minimum of 20 factors per sport in each season because the 2013-14 marketing campaign.
Boston goes to want somebody to assist fill the scoring void that’s being left by Jayson Tatum subsequent season. Nevertheless, DeRozan simply doesn’t match the Mazzulla Ball system.
Of all of DeRozan’s photographs a season in the past, 80.4% of them got here from contained in the 2-point arc. DeRozan took 8.3 mid vary photographs per sport in his first season as a King. That’s 5.4 greater than Jayson Tatum, who lead the Celtics with 2.9 mid vary photographs per sport throughout the 2024-25 season.
There isn’t a method that DeRozan would get his mid-range photographs to beneath 3 per sport. Through the 2020-21 season, his final as a Spur, DeRozan took 5.9 mid-range photographs per sport. That was the final season he didn’t lead the NBA in mid-range shot makes an attempt per sport.
DeRozan’s protection isn’t nice however that’s to be anticipated from a man who will probably be 36 on opening evening. He tends to get beat on drives to the cup however isn’t a horrible defensive participant who prices the workforce on that finish persistently.
DeRozan shouldn’t be a foul passer both. His 4.4 assists per sport and 18.7% help charge had been down from his time with the Bulls, the place he averaged 5.1 assists per sport and had an help charge of twenty-two.4%. Help charge is the estimated proportion of baskets the participant assisted on once they had been on the court docket.
DeRozan can be one of many clutchest gamers within the NBA. He did not have an excellent clutch season this previous 12 months, capturing 44% from the sector and 20% from three in clutch video games. That are outlined by the NBA as video games with 5 factors with beneath 5 minutes to go within the sport. Nevertheless, for he completed third in Clutch Participant of the 12 months voting throughout the 2022-23 season and 2nd for the 2023-24 season when he was with the Bulls.
He has an elite clutch gene.
How would DeRozan slot in Boston?
Jayson Tatum goes to overlook a good portion of subsequent season together with his achilles tear (I hate being reminded of this reality), if not all of it. Boston goes to want guys to attain the ball subsequent season. Anticipating that he’s again, Jaylen Brown will probably be a kind of guys and an elevated position from Payton Pritchard can even assist. Nevertheless, DeRozan is a bucket, who’s elite at attending to his spots and hitting bounce photographs. That’s one thing that the Celtics will want subsequent season.
DeRozan’s contract can be one thing that Boston ought to have curiosity in. Simply $10 million of the $25 million DeRozan is scheduled to make throughout the 2026-27 season is assured. If the Celtics wish to transfer off of DeRozan after the season, they will waive and stretch him at simply over $3 million for 3 seasons. If he makes the All-Star workforce subsequent season that might improve to $12 million but when he’s an All-Star the Celtics probably would not waive him.
So, does it make sense for the Celtics to commerce Vacation for DeRozan?
I do not assume it will be a foul commerce for the Celtics however ought to the Celtics prioritize DeRozan in a Vacation commerce? No, they need to not. DeRozan is a good participant, who can be enjoyable to look at play for the Celtics. Nevertheless, he’s going to be 36 in August and wouldn’t be a long run piece for the Celtics.
If Boston can get one thing they will maintain long run in a Vacation commerce they need to try this as a substitute of buying and selling for DeRozan as a result of subsequent season is prone to be a wash anyhow.
