Lakers, Heat, Bulls' Top Targets After DeMar DeRozan Signs $74M Kings Contract (2024)

The Sacramento Kings have added DeMar DeRozan through a sign-and-trade deal with the Chicago Bulls, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Tim Bontemps.

That means a top trade candidate for the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat is off the board, while Bulls will need to seek a replacement for the 2023-24 Clutch Player of the Year runner-up.

DeRozan averaged 24.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 79 games in Chicago last season.

His offense and 15 years of NBA experience won't be easy to replace, but the Lakers, Heat and Bulls could consider other free agent forwards like Saddiq Bey or Gordon Hayward as they look to build their wing depth this fall.

The Lakers have reportedly had interest in a host of free agents including DeRozan as well as Klay Thompson, Donovan Mitchell, Paul George, and James Harden. None have signed in Los Angeles.

Who can the Lakers target next to build their 2024-25 roster into a title contender around Anthony Davis and LeBron James?

HoopsHype's Michael Scotto reported that the Lakers have interested in Grant, who averaged 40.2 percent from deep last season while providing defense for the Portland Trail Blazers. He is under team control for three more seasons and will cost $29.8 million against the cap in 2024-25.

The Lakers have also discussed trades with the Brooklyn Nets for three-and-D wings Cam Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith, per LakersDaily's Anthony Irwin. Irwin wrote that the Nets want a first-rounder for Finney-Smith but are "a little more flexible" on Cam Johnson given his injury history, which could make him a more attainable target for the Lakers given James' new contract.

Kuzma connected on a career-high 46.3 percent of his shots from the field last season, including 33.6 percent from deep. His contract, which keeps him under team control for three more seasons under descending salaries, and his familiarity with the Lakers' stars could make him a candidate for a return to Los Angeles.

The Miami Heat may have missed out on DeRozan, but that doesn't mean they won't be making any trade moves this offseason.

Who are some other trade targets the Heat could pursue in order to build their roster around Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo?

Ingram, who recorded 20.8 points per game through 64 starts for the Pelicans last season, has recently been the subject of "intensified" trade talks in New Orleans, according to NBA insider Marc Stein. Stein tied the Kings to Ingram, but now that Sacramento has signed DeRozan the Pelicans could consider other suitors interested in adding to their frontcourt like the Heat.

The Nets are reportedly shopping Dorian Finney-Smith, and the Heat's desire for a three-and-D wing could lead them to a deal with Brooklyn. Finney-Smith could provide defense and slot in well with Butler and Adebayo as a floor-spacing forward.

Saddiq Bey is still recovering from the torn ACL he suffered in March, but with DeRozan and other big targets off the board he remains one of the most significant free agents remaining on the market. The Heat could decide to pursue the Hawks wing, who is also looking to rebound from shooting a career-low 31.6 percent from deep, if the team believes they will benefit from a depth forward who might not be available for the start of the season.

The Chicago Bulls have moved on from DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso, and are reportedly shopping Zach LaVine.

Which other players could join Josh Giddey as part of the Bulls' movement to acquire youth this summer?

If the Bulls decide to move on from veteran center Nikola Vučević, they could take a swing at a trade for a young center like Robinson.

Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer reported that the Knicks might consider trading Robinson, a player that Marc Berman of the New York Post previously reported that the Bulls had pursued in 2022 free agency.

The Bulls could also consider a candidate like Deandre Ayton, whom the Portland Trail Blazers could consider moving after acquiring Donovan Clingan with the No. 7 pick of the 2024 draft. Ayton, who averaged 1.0 steals per game for the first time in his career for the Blazers last season, could help the young Bulls boost their defense this fall.