DeMar DeRozan constantly exceeding expectations among valuable but volatile situations from San Antonio to Chicago, has put him in a position where his long-term future was an oft-discussed wrinkle whenever trade season was in play and now he’s part of a handy trio in Sacramento alongside De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis. Why wouldn’t the latter, or his teammates, be excited?
From rivals to teammates
EVER since Sacramento regretfully traded away guard Tyrese Haliburton for Domantas Sabonis and saw how well the big man has combined alongside De’Aaron Fox, they’ve been searching for the missing jigsaw puzzle piece. Now they have him.
Haliburton has blossomed into an All-Star and All-NBA player since leaving his draft club, having been given the proverbial keys to an Indiana Pacers franchise needing his purposeful impetus in their backcourt. They reached the Eastern Conference finals last term and are bullish they’ll build on that success, rather than becoming another iteration of the Atlanta Hawks side who did similar in 2021.
While it was, and will still be painful for Sacramento fans watching Haliburton flourish away from his draft club, his performances made this a necessary evil at a time where fellow point guard Fox, three years older, is their franchise cornerstone.
Head coach Mike Brown has been highly-regarded for years and will have felt vindicated by the potential he oversaw, even if it saw them lose at the death during a compelling first-round playoff encounter to his former club in Golden State.
That was two seasons ago. Time waits for no man, and at a time where most of their Western Conference rivals are improving – namely the Minnesota Timberwolves after mirroring Indiana’s success in a conference notorious for competition.
Heavy criticism surrounding the Rudy Gobert trade has fallen into the rearview mirror after a successful second year of their project and Sabonis, at 28, will look to improve further in Year 9 having enjoyed a career-best year where he averaged 19.4 points, a league-high 13.7 rebounds and 8.2 assists per game last term.
That, coupled with a new record-breaking consecutive double-double tally (61) while leading his peers with the most triple-doubles (26), reinforces the fact he’s a multi-faceted asset who should help DeRozan’s transition be seamless.
Kevin Huerter’s injury woes and Malik Monk when he doesn’t have the hot hand mean neither sharpshooter can be regarded as the #3 option on a nightly basis, but DeRozan doing so just speaks to their improved depth at a time multiple title-contending sides are doing the same – Philadelphia the most notable this offseason.
In a conversation with FOX40’s Sean Cunningham at his first youth basketball camp, the Lithuania international spoke about his feelings when his new teammate was acquired given well-sourced speculation had linked him pretty much elsewhere.
“Excited. At that point, nothing was falling through, so I was getting a bit frustrated, I’m happy he is here. Then, getting to spend that week with him in L.A. and knowing him more; I’m really excited.”
On how their playing styles will combine, considering Sabonis has largely been paired with perimeter shooters throughout his career, he welcomed the versatility.
“I think it’s going to be good, make us think and move differently on the court, really read each other. We’re used to playing one style but he does something at a Hall of Fame level we’re going to have to play around – so much harder for teams guarding us, can basically score from anywhere.”
Sabonis conceded the acquisition had positively exceeded any expectations he had for Sacramento’s offseason moves and that he’s excited to learn, picking his brain while other players – namely the aforementioned Huerter and Keegan Murray – should benefit greatly from less defensive attention, meaning more opportunities.
Murray enters into Year 3 after averaging 15.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists and a steal per game in 77 regular season contests during his sophomore year.
The 24-year-old small forward, who finished fifth in Rookie of the Year voting in 2022-23, saw his three-point efficiency drop (35.8, down from 41.1) though his overall FG% remained consistent at 45.4, up a decimal point.
He’ll be hoping to take a leap, as too will fellow third-year man Keon Ellis after the shooting guard made waves in the Summer League and has gradually earned more run, even if his minutes have remained spotty for stretches.
Picture source: Getty Images, quotes hyperlinked
Mo and Sports 