San Antonio Spurs guard and unrestricted free agent DeMar DeRozan made no secrets about it: He wanted to return home and play for the Los Angeles Lakers this summer, and chase a title for the team he grew up rooting for.
In a podcast interview last week, DeRozan said playing for the Lakers would be “a great opportunity” after previously calling it an “honor” to be linked to the team in trade rumors. There were even reports that he was willing to take a pay cut to join the purple and gold, and that the Spurs would be willing to facilitate his return to Los Angeles if the Lakers sent them back their long-coveted Kyle Kuzma in return.