The Philadelphia 76ers were anticipated to acquire a superstar this summer due to their ample cap space, ultimately securing forward Paul George with a four-year, $212 million deal.
However, George wasn’t the only star in the running; former Chicago Bull DeMar DeRozan was also looking to join a new team. He ended up with the Sacramento Kings through a sign-and-trade but mentioned that the Sixers were also a strong contender for his services.
In a recent podcast with George, DeRozan discussed his potential summer destinations.
“I was considering Philly,” DeRozan said. “Philly was certainly an option. The Lakers were always an option, as were the Clippers and the Heat. I would say those teams were definitely legitimate options I was taking into account.”
While it’s still early to make definitive judgments, it seems likely that Philadelphia’s front office made the right decision. Both DeRozan and George may be past their prime, but the former Los Angeles Clippers player provides significantly better two-way skills and perimeter shooting. George is a four-time All-Defensive selection who shot 41.3% from three-point range last season, whereas DeRozan managed only 33.3% on limited attempts.
Nonetheless, DeRozan is a great fit for the Kings. Sacramento didn’t need another ball-dominant scorer; instead, they acquired a dependable veteran who can score when needed. On the other hand, George aims to complement Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey as they both pursue their first championship.
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