Bulls six-time All-Star flies to Sacramento to meet with Kings amid trade talks

Trade discussions between the Chicago Bulls and Sacramento Kings are escalating.

The two franchises have been working on a sign-and-trade that would send Bulls All-Star shooting guard DeMar DeRozan to Sacramento.

Now, it's come to light that DeRozan is playing a key role in the ongoing negotiations.

DeRozan, who is seeking upwards of a $25M contract with the Kings, is reportedly en route to Sacramento to meet with Kings personnel this weekend.

The Athletic's Shams Charania took to his X account early Saturday afternoon and provided an update on the 34-year-old free agent guard, who averaged 24.0 points per game for the Bulls last season.

"DeRozan is traveling to meet with the Kings in Sacramento this weekend," Charania said. "The Kings are in serious pursuit of the six-time All-Star, who has begun one-on-one conversations with various team personnel."

DeRozan was recently named a priority in Chicago's future plans. Bulls executive Artūras Karnišovas expressed during his exit interview after this past season that he desired to resign DeRozan to a new contract.

The last few weeks have not gone according to Karnišovas's, plan, however. In addition to Chicago failing to trade Zach LaVine (a necessary step towards re-signing DeRozan), it surfaced last week that DeRozan lost any remaining interest he had in returning to Chicago once the Bulls traded away Alex Caruso for Josh Giddey.

With DeRozan meeting face-to-face with the Kings this weekend, it appears that a new era is on the horizon in Chicago.

More NBA: Bulls, Kings discussing blockbuster trade that could be done 'within 24-48 hours'