“Control what you can control… sticking through something always teaches you a lesson.” That’s the philosophy that has defined DeMar DeRozan’s career. He’s a dying breed in the NBA—a mid-range artist in a three-point obsessed league and a quiet professional who lets his game do the talking. At 34, he’s still an elite scorer and a leader. But in an era of asset management, his old-school approach seems to be valued less and less, a fact made painfully clear by a recent trade proposal.

Let’s set the stage. The Sacramento Kings brought DeMar DeRozan in via that big three-team sign-and-trade in the summer of 2024. The plan was clear: team up the six-time All-Star and master of the midrange with De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis to create a “Big Three” capable of making some real noise in a loaded Western Conference. And DeRozan held up his end of the bargain. He was a leader in the locker room. He’s turned out to be the veteran presence, the reliable bucket-getter they needed.

But the NBA is a cold business, and the rumor mill never stops churning. A new three-team trade proposal has started making the rounds, and for Kings fans, it’s a real head-scratcher. The deal would send DeRozan and his $24.7 million contract, along with rookie Devin Carter, to the Miami Heat. In return, the Kings would get back Duncan Robinson, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and a late first-round pick.

On the surface, it’s an underwhelming return for an All-Star. But when you look at the money, it gets even worse. The Kings would be taking back roughly $19.9 million in salary for Robinson and Jaquez, saving nearly $6 million in cap space. The Kings would give up the best player in the deal and, in return, get a shooter on a large contract and a role player, essentially saving money while getting worse on the court.

And that’s where DeRozan’s recent career confession makes this trade proposal feel like such brutal disrespect. On a recent episode of the “Time Out with Dwyane Wade” podcast, DeRozan revealed something pretty incredible: “I don’t drink. Never had a drink in my life.” He explained it wasn’t about judgment, but about a singular focus on his career. “My whole goal of hooping was like, I want to be able to play as long as I can,” he said.

He talked about learning from the “old heads” when he first came into the league, how he started doing ice baths before he even needed them, just to build the habit. “It became such a routine,” he confessed. “What all can I do to prolong whatever it is that I want to do?”

With 25,292 points under his belt, sitting at the 25th spot in the sports’ leading scorers list, right behind the 2x MVP Stephen Curry, only 94 points behind that too. This is the guy you trade for role players and a late first-round pick? Really? A player who has dedicated his entire adult life to preserving his body, who has publicly opened up about his mental health struggles, and who continues to be an elite scorer at 34 years old?

The proposal feels like it’s completely ignoring the man and the player, and just looking at an age and a salary. And for a competitor like DeMar DeRozan, that has to be the ultimate insult. But as it turns out, while the NBA world debates his value, DeRozan has his own ideas about what a real winning player looks like.

DeMar DeRozan on the player every NBA team wishes they had

On that same podcast with Dwyane Wade, DeRozan singled out Thunder guard Alex Caruso as the player who is excelling most in the Finals.

“You know, throughout the year, people didn’t get to see him play as much, but it was all because they knew how important he would be to the team come playoff time,” DeRozan said of his former Bulls teammate. “And I think, seeing what he’s doing on both ends of the floor, every NBA team wish they had Alex Caruso.”

He would know. DeRozan saw firsthand for three years in Chicago what makes Caruso special. It’s the stuff that doesn’t always pop in a regular-season box score but becomes magnified under the bright lights of the Finals. “A guy who would never shy away from taking a big shot, making a big play, taking on the toughest defensive assignment,” DeRozan explained. “Obviously, he got championship experience. But the teammate that he is… he a gamer.”

The “Caru-show” has been a revelation for the Thunder. He’s the only player on the roster with a championship ring, and his journey from an undrafted G-Leaguer to a defensive-minded role player who makes winning plays is the stuff of legend. He’s exactly the kind of high-IQ player every contender needs. As his current coach, Mark Daigneault, put it, Caruso is a “competitive monster.”

And that’s what makes the trade rumors surrounding DeRozan so confusing. While front offices are crunching numbers and looking for financial flexibility, one of the most respected veterans in the league is on a podcast praising a player for his intangibles—his heart, his hustle, and his willingness to do the dirty work.

If every team wishes they had an Alex Caruso—a “gamer” who lives for the big moments—then why would the Kings even consider trading away their own proven performer? It’s a disconnect that defines the modern NBA, a league where a player’s value can be both undeniable and completely overlooked at the same time.