West Notes: Kings, DeMar DeRozan, Spurs, Chris Paul, Suns

Kings

Adding small forward DeMar DeRozan means the Kings are big winners this offseason, according to David Aldridge of The Athletic.

“The Kings snagged one of the game’s great closers in DeRozan, who’ll help them in so many ways,” Aldridge wrote. “He lives to take the last shot and is a foul-drawing impresario. And while the Kings could have used another shooter to help keep the floor spaced for De’Aaron Fox, DeRozan will be a unique weapon whom Mike Brown can use in all manner of interesting ways with Fox, Domantas Sabonis and Keegan Murray.”

Now it just means that Brown will have to get even more creative. But that’s not been an issue during his Sacramento tenure.

“Speaking of Brown, good on the Kings for not messing around and making their very good head coach a lame duck going into the last year of his old deal, extending him for three years,” Aldridge added. “Just holding onto Brown and Monk, who looked certain to be leaving for a more lucrative deal elsewhere, would have made for a good offseason. With DeRozan’s arrival, it’s approaching great.”

• The biggest X-factor for the Kings next season? The answer is shooting guard Keon Ellis, according to Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report. Ellis averaged 8.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists in 21 starts last year.

Spurs

The addition of Chris Paul will be a biggie for the Spurs, even at his advanced age, Aldridge opined. Veteran forward Harrison Barnes, another newcomer, will help, too.

“Even at 39, Paul will manipulate defenses to get Victor Wembanyama rim rolls, dunks and pocket passes or find Devin Vassell for open 3s,” Aldridge wrote. “Paul and Barnes will continue the education of the young core Spurs.

“And there isn’t a better match of player skills/pedigree with a team than Stephon Castle with San Antonio. He’s a defensive menace who will get a year of graduate-level mentoring from CP3. Even if Castle never becomes a full-time point guard, he’s going to be a major backcourt presence.

“Maybe trading Rob Dillingham‘s rights won’t look great with time, but one can understand the Spurs not being wedded right now to a player like Dillingham — who’s hella talented but needs the ball in his hands, and looks to score. San Antonio wants to spray the ball around and feed Wemby as often as possible.”

• NBA legend Dwyane Wade offered some high praise for Wembanyama and his showing at the Paris Olympics. “He is the future,” Wade declared, via Scott Solomon of SI.com.
• Should the Spurs pursue Hawks forward De’Andre Hunter? We wrote more here.

Suns

The Suns had a big summer last year, but this one hardly has been splashy. That’s OK, Aldridge suggested.

“After a crazed 2023 offseason, the Suns were more low-key this summer. Granted, maybe out of necessity,” Aldridge wrote. “Adding the two-time Coach of the Year in Mike Budenholzer should get Phoenix better organized, but the Suns’ main challenge is keeping Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal on the floor.

“They logged 862 minutes together last season, which was just the sixth-highest amount of minutes among Phoenix three-man units. Even a small increase from the trio in time spent together could take the Suns from very good offensively (10th last season in offensive rating, 116.8) to elite. And elite is where championship-level teams do their work.”

Phoenix did make one move that has the franchise excited — landing a tried-and-true point guard in Tyus Jones.

“But the Suns get solid marks for bolstering themselves at the point, with two of the best ever at protecting the rock in Jones (a ridiculous 7.35 assist-turnover ratio for the Wizards last season, the highest mark since individual turnovers were first tracked in 1977-78) and Morris (career 5.1 assist-turnover ratio),” Aldridge wrote.

• Meanwhile, a panel of ESPN experts ranked the Suns as the fourth-likeliest team to make a major leap next offseason.