Watch: DeMar DeRozan and Domantas Sabonis link up early for offseason workouts ahead of 2024-25 season

DeMar DeRozan and Domantas Sabonis were seen hitting the floor early in the offseason. The veteran F/G, who signed a deal with the Sacramento Kings in free agency earlier this summer, trained with center Sabonis as the duo were seen fine-tuning their handles and jumpers. Both players will share the hardwood for the first time in their careers.

DeRozan has kept himself busy with his Drew League appearances, notching up monster numbers including a 54-point performance that went viral on social media.

In his last season with the Bulls, DeRozan averaged 24.0 points shooting at a well-over-healthy 48% from the field. The midrange sniper's performances though weren't enough to propel Chicago to the playoffs. In his three seasons with the franchise, they made the postseason just once.

As for Sabonis, the big ended his 2023-24 season averaging 19.4 points, 13.7 rebounds, and 8.2 assists for Sacramento. He and De'Aaron Fox now have a third superstar in DeMar DeRozan to help bolster their playoff chances this season.

---

DeMar DeRozan explains his decision to join the Sacramento Kings" "I want to be one of the guys who hits the beam

DeMar DeRozan believed he and the Kings could do something special after a three-team trade (his former team San Antonio Spurs) where the other side saw him head to the West Coast. The 6x NBA All-Star expressed that it was good to be wanted. According to the Sacramento Bee:

“It’s beyond an honor to be a part of such an uprising franchise. The want that they showed going into free agency was amazing. I ain’t going to lie. It always feels good to be wanted somewhere and from Day 1 they showed that, so it’s an honor to be able to represent this organization and build on what this organization has been doing for the past couple of years. It’s something special and I want to be a part of it. I want to be one of the guys who hits the beam."

The Kings signed DeRozan to a three-year, $73.7 million contract with a $10 million partial guarantee in his final year. As part of the deal, Sacramento sent Harrison Barnes along with an unprotected 2031 pick swap to the Spurs with Chris Duarte, two second-round picks and cash going to the Bulls. It will be interesting to see how the new partnership pans out now between DeMar DeRozan and the Kings.