NBA Notes: Lakers, DeMar DeRozan, Magic, Nikola Vucevic, Nets

Lakers

It doesn’t sound like DeMar DeRozan will be heading home after all.

Ryan Ward of SI.com relayed that the Lakers aren’t considered a landing spot for the veteran forward after he was waived by the Kings, citing ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.

That ends years of speculation linking the Los Angeles native to the Lakers.

Instead, the organization appears focused on building a younger roster around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.

The Lakers have already added Walker Kessler, Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton and several younger pieces this offseason while moving on from LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, Marcus Smart and others.

Ward added that Jonathan Kuminga remains a player to watch, though LA would likely have to get creative financially to make that happen.

The Lakers also continue searching for another center after trading Deandre Ayton.

Magic

Nikola Vucevic is back where it all started.

More than five years after Orlando traded the two-time All-Star to Chicago, Vucevic has returned to the Magic, and he admitted the decision wasn’t a difficult one.

“For me, being at this stage in my career, it was important to join a team that had a chance to win and a place that would be good for my family,” Vucevic said during his introductory press conference, as relayed by Austin Dobbins of SI.com. “It was a pretty easy decision to come back.”

Vucevic spent nine seasons with Orlando before the 2021 trade that eventually helped bring Franz Wagner to the franchise.

Now 35, he’ll take on a much different role, providing experience and depth behind Wendell Carter Jr. rather than serving as the centerpiece of the offense.

For the Magic, it’s a reunion that simply makes sense.

Nets

The early reviews of Brooklyn’s offseason have been encouraging.

Brian Lewis of the New York Post wrote that league observers believe the Nets have quietly put together a strong summer by retaining Day’Ron Sharpe and Josh Minott, adding Keon Ellis and acquiring Julius Randle while moving up in the draft.

One NBA agent even offered a strong endorsement of the Randle trade.

“I actually really like it,” the agent told Lewis. “(Randle’s) great and will be good with his own team.”

The Nets may not have landed the biggest name in free agency.

They have, however, positioned themselves to be more competitive while maintaining the flexibility to keep building in the months ahead.