Kings’ DeRozan jackpot a bright spot for Sacramento

Kings’ DeRozan jackpot a bright spot for Sacramento. Originally published on NBC Sports Bay Area

On a clear July night, in 106-degree temperatures, Kings fans paraded through the DoCo area just outside Golden 1 Center.

As the doors finally opened on Saturday for the California Classic match between the Kings and the Chinese national team, fans’ eyes, ears and hearts also opened.

Rumors have been flying around town for over 24 hours about a possible big-name star acquisition, but being a Kings fan means staying on high alert for any and all NBA rumors.

In recent years, the value of “we hear” and “we expect so-and-so” has been lost on 9/16, as players like Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby, Khris Middleton, Jarrett Allen and Andre Iguodala quickly went from expected to what might have been.

But Saturday signaled a new era for Sacramento. This time, something felt different.

Because it was a summer league game, the upper levels inside Golden 1 Center were closed off, but Kings fans didn’t care that it was “just” a summer league game in early July against a non-NBA team — because it wasn’t.

The stands below were full. Full of fans, excited, anxious, and restless. A murmur drowned out the sound of shoes squeaking on the wooden floors. Looks of longing and hope were on the fans’ faces. No purple lasers were shooting out of the Sacramento sky that night, but the amount of energy in the building could have been enough to fire a beam straight to Mars.

Attention at the arena reached a new level when some fans noticed and shared on social media that Kings owner Vivek Ranadivé, who was sitting courtside at the Charlotte Hornets-San Antonio Spurs game prior to the Sacramento game, was suddenly gone from his seat.

And then it happened. of A notification occurred.

The Kings acquired DeMar DeRozan in a sign-and-trade deal with the Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs, with the NBA superstar joining Sacramento of his own accord.

The big move was first reported by top NBA officials Shams Charania and Adrian Wojnarowski, with official confirmation reaching the building just minutes later.

They did it. Ranadivé did it. Kings general manager Monte McNair and assistant general manager Wes Wilcox did it. And Kings fans can finally celebrate an offseason victory.

McNair walked onto the court to a chorus of “Monte! Monte!” as he signed autographs. The general manager received a thunderous ovation from fans at a summer league game.

The fanbase, who had been patient for decades, couldn’t contain this emotion – their excitement. They had been told “no” so many times, and now… finally – Was chosen.

DeRozan became a free agent this offseason after 15 seasons with Toronto, San Antonio and Chicago. Sacramento had expressed interest in the 34-year-old forward in the past few weeks, as had other top-market teams such as the Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat. Of course, Los Angeles is the six-time NBA All-Star’s home base.

But he Selected Kings. He Selected Sacramento is better than Southern California and South Beach. Selected I’d rather play with De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis than LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard.

And Kings fans gave back to him in the best way they know how.

Just as the Kings game was about to begin, the crowd at Golden 1 Center erupted in cheers. They loved Kings basketball, but it wasn’t for the upcoming jump ball.

Featuring Ranadivé, his daughter Anjali, and person of the moment and offseason favorite DeMar DeRozan.

DeRozan was greeted with a standing ovation in Sacramento, just a glimpse of what to expect in the coming years from the passionate fans in this basketball-loving city.

Ranadivé sat next to DeRozan throughout the game and had a relieved smile on his face, but the Kings’ work wasn’t done that night. Free-agent guard Jordan McLaughlin later agreed to a one-year contract with Sacramento, as announced by his agent, Greg Lawrence.

All of this came just hours after the press conference officially announced the re-signing of Malik Monk, along with DeRozan. Selected He led the Kings to victory by refusing to take more money from other teams in free agency.

The Kings swept Team China on the first day of the California Classic, but they added even more to the win on Saturday night.

This marks a new beginning for Kings Basketball, a team that was once the laughing stock of the NBA and is now the subject of interest from top free agents around the league.

After years of futility, Kings brass have finally hit the jackpot with a big-name acquisition, but more than that, what’s going on in the state capital is becoming clear to people outside the Sacramento area.

This is a special time for basketball in Sacramento, and the community proved just that on Saturday night, from tension to “YES!”