The Kings also cannot aggregate the contract of recently acquired Jalen McDaniels. Thus, the strongest possible team Sacramento could put together would have them combine Chris Duarte and a signed-and-traded Kessler Edwards, but the Kings could only pay DeRozan a maximum of $15 million in 2024-25 and still sign a 14th player and remain below the apron. To go beyond that for DeRozan, into the $20 million a year range that one presumes might be necessary to seal a long-term deal, requires a) trading one of Kevin Huerter or Harrison Barnes, or b) aggregating Duarte and Lyles. Barnes and Huerter are signed beyond this season, however, and the Bulls likely are looking for expiring money in return for DeRozan. -via New York Times / July 6, 2024