Expected buyout! A six-time All-Star guard! Might join the Clippers to play alongside Leonard

Reporter Scotto reports:Unless an unexpected trade occurs, the Kings are anticipated to employ the stretch provision to cut DeRozan...

The 36-year-old veteran has only $10 million guaranteed out of his $25.74 million contract for next season, and the Kings can prorate that sum across the next three seasons.

Once DeRozan enters free agency, the Clippers will be at the forefront of the competition. DeRozan is a Los Angeles native, and as an LA team, the Clippers hold an advantage.

The combination of DeRozan and Leonard feels uniquely intriguing and could bring unexpected surprises. The two swapped teams back in the summer of 2018.

Born on August 7, 1989, DeRozan is a swingman standing 1.98m tall with a 2.06m wingspan. He was the ninth overall pick in the 2009 draft. His NBA career so far has seen him play for the Raptors, Spurs, Bulls, and Kings. In the regular season, he averages 21.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.0 steals per game; in the playoffs, he averages 21.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.1 steals.

Last season with the Kings, DeRozan started all 77 games he played, averaging 31.2 minutes per game and contributing 18.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.0 steals with a 49.7% shooting percentage. He still has plenty left in the tank, including a big double-double of 41 points and 11 assists against the Jazz in mid-March.

As the most retro-style shooting guard in today's league, DeRozan's mid-range shooting is exceptional, but he poses almost no threat from beyond the three-point line. In his regular-season career, he has made 0.5 three-pointers per game at a 30.2% clip, and in the playoffs, 0.4 threes at a 21.4% clip. His lack of outside shooting has limited his ceiling.

However, looking at DeRozan's achievements so far, he can be considered a true success. According to partial statistics, his total career earnings amount to $306 million. He has made three All-NBA teams, six All-Star appearances, and won an Olympic gold medal with Team USA, among other honors.