Why DeMar DeRozan Signing With Sacramento Should Help the Atlanta Hawks

Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan was always an odd choice for a team that appears poised to rebuild in 2024-25. It should come as no surprise that he’s moving on. However, his departure from the Bulls could help the Hawks.

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Sacramento Kings have continued to pursue DeRozan in a trade. The Kings are looking to return to the playoffs after losing to the New Orleans Pelicans in the play-in round. They appear to view DeRozan as a piece that can help them get there.

“Sacramento continues to pursue DeMar DeRozan via trade and San Antonio has emerged as a potential facilitator for a third team, league sources say. The Kings pursued DeRozan this week and Chicago is willing to facilitate a trade but is insisting that a third team be included in the deal to take on the salary.”

TNT Sports and B/R insider Chris Haynes also revealed that DeRozan and his agents are meeting with the Kings today in Sacramento.

The deal finally got done tonight, with multiple reports confirming that DeRozan would be headed to Sacramento, Harrison Barnes would be leaving for San Antonio, and the second-round pick, Chris Duarte, and cash would be going to the Chicago Bulls.

The Kings are indirectly helping the Hawks by making this trade. In 2022, Atlanta sent Kevin Huerter to Sacramento in exchange for Justin Holiday, Moe Harkless, and a 2024 first-round pick. That pick was protected in the top 14, but the Kings got it because they landed the 13th overall pick. As a result, the pick became a protected top-12 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.

There are two reasons why the pick deferred to 2025 is a much better option for the Hawks. First, it’s more likely that the Hawks will get the pick if DeRozan leaves for Sacramento. The Kings’ 2024-25 lineup would likely be De’Aaron Fox – Malik Monk – Keegan Murray – DeMar DeRozan – Domantas Sabonis. While this team’s ceiling is questionable, the floor is not. Barring injuries, I expect this team to finish among the top eight teams in the Western Conference. The Kings finished ninth last season — adding DeRozan gives them another scorer and a situational playmaker. His ability to draw fouls and capitalize on his free throws would also be a welcome addition to a Kings team that finished last in the NBA in free throw percentage.

Additionally, it could move the Lakers down in the standings, which also helps the Hawks. The Hawks own the Lakers’ unprotected first-round pick in 2025, and this move could propel Sacramento above the Lakers in the Western Conference standings.

Second, the 2025 draft is shaping up to be much better than the 2024 draft. Betting on the Hawks to get Cooper Flagg, the current favorite to be selected first, seems highly unlikely. However, players like VJ Edgecombe, Dylan Harper, Ace Bailey, Rocco Zikarsky, Khaman Maluach, Hugo Gonzalez, and others are all particularly solid options. The 2025 class has a clear candidate for the top pick in Flagg, while also having several athletic wings and big men who fit the mold of players valued by the modern NBA. If the Hawks didn’t have a first-round selection in this draft, it would certainly be disappointing. However, there’s now a good chance they’ll have the opportunity to select someone in the middle of the first round.

CBS Sports’ Gary Parrish recently conducted a mock draft for the 2025 cycle that saw the Hawks select Texas guard Tre Johnson with the 13th overall selection. His thoughts on Johnson can be found below.

Johnson is coming off a senior year in high school where he shot nearly 40 percent from three-point range and over 90 percent from the free throw line. If the 6-foot-1 guard posts similar numbers in his first season in the SEC, he could be a top-five pick in next year’s draft, mainly because tall guards who have proven themselves from three-point range for several years are hard to ignore.

A tall shooting guard seems like a perfect fit alongside Trae Young. Johnson found success at Link Academy in an off-ball role where he used his size, footwork and excellent jump shot to create space against defenses. If his scoring ability translates to the SEC, he may not be selected by the Hawks.

While drafting more wings with two-way potential is never a bad idea, I’m intrigued by the possibility of Atlanta selecting a big man. Even if they manage to move Clint Capela, there’s a chance Onyeka Okongwu could struggle to fill a full-time role. Players like Maluach, Ohio State’s Aaron Bradshaw, and Croatian center Zvonimir Ivisic could be interesting options for the Hawks in next year’s draft.