DeMar DeRozan makes for a perfect 3-team trade

PLUS: Giannis is going to Paris.

Good morning. Let’s basketball.

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Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose; John Singer Sargent; 1885-86

The Kings finally made a splash in free agency over the weekend, landing DeMar DeRozan on a three-year sign-and-trade deal with the Bulls where Harrison Barnes lands in … San Antonio, along with a pick swap option from the Kings in 2031. The Bulls end up with Chris Duarte and two seconds.

Obviously, I care most about the DeRozan piece of this — does adding a third scorer who can create for himself and others (with De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk) outweigh the ding to deep shooting this swap will affect? All of the commentary about the Kings’ defense I’ve seen and heard is off-base: the team’s resistance was slightly above average last season. It was their offense slipping from record highs to near-average that sunk their 2023-24 campaign. They were No. 3 in three-point frequency — Keegan Murray, Kevin Huerter, Monk and Barnes took a ton — and that could dip replacing Barnes with DeRozan. But Sacramento’s statistical weakness on offense has been foul-drawing. DeRozan was No. 2 in total free throws made last season. That’s a new element that could offset the shooting change, and Sacramento should still be top-10 in three-point frequency.

For Chicago: the Bulls traded Alex Caruso and DeMar DeRozan for Josh Giddey, Chris Duarte and two seconds. They also gave Patrick Williams a $90 million deal.

The Spurs take on Barnes with the sweetener of that 2031 swap option. This is a two-fer.