The veteran and multiple All-Star shared an honest take about his Sacramento future.
DeMar DeRozan is arguably the most popular trade contender from the Sacramento Kings. Many around NBA circles believes he won't finish out with the franchise.
But does DeRozan believe it too?
He opened up about the possibility of switching to another league roster with Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee on Monday. The Kings have until Feb. 5 to create a trade package that could send DeRozan elsewhere.
DeRozan himself made this acknowledgement: He can't play forever...especially as a 36-year-old veteran.
"For me, it’s not like I’m playing another 10 years, so you definitely want to maximize your time and give everything you’ve got left to playing for something,” DeRozan told The Sacramento Bee. “I don’t think that part of it is a secret whether it’s here or wherever.”
Yet, does he believe he'll soon clean out his Sacramento locker room and head somewhere else?
"It’s going to happen,” DeRozan said when asked how he feels about trade speculation to Anderson. “When things ain’t going right, that’s what happens. When you’re not winning, that’s what happens. It just comes with the game."
Sacramento is enduring a rather forgettable year -- one that's seen a 12-35 record and lots of talk about a roster blowup. Outside of DeRozan, Domantas Sabonis is another possible trade candidate -- even after returning from a partial meniscus tear.
It's not just Sabonis or DeRozan either. Reserve Keon Ellis was called the most likely to be traded first. Malik Monk is one more rising as a trade contender.
DeRozan, though, delivered a professional attitude amid the growing trade speculation.
"You’ve still got to go out there, do your job and compete," DeRozan said. "We’ve still got to separate that part of it, still have a love for the game and still go out there and compete.”
He also added a part "everybody understands" inside the Kings' facility despite what the record shows.
“I think everybody understands you want to have an opportunity to compete, an opportunity to win, but you have to go about the situation the right way,” DeRozan said. “Granted, it’s tough right now. Nobody wishes to have this record we have, but I’ve always been the one to stick through the hard times. It’s always easy to say you want to be in a better situation, but you’ve got to deal with the cards that are dealt and make the best out of them.”
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