DeMar DeRozan Free Agency: Six-Time All-Star Waived by Kings, Multiple Contenders Circle
DeMar DeRozan is a free agent, and every contender in the league now has a decision to make.
The Sacramento Kings waived the six-time All-Star, ending his brief tenure in California and putting a legitimate offensive weapon on the open market. The Wizards, Heat, Nuggets, and Cavaliers have all shown interest, and the market is likely to expand from there in the next few days.
DeRozan is 36 years old and coming off a season where he averaged 20 points per game for a Kings team that never quite found its identity. His scoring has held up. His playmaking has actually improved. What has declined is his defense, which was never his calling card even in his prime.
Why the Kings Moved On
Sacramento is trying to reset. The team has been mediocre for the last few years, and the front office decided it was time to cut ties with the older core pieces. DeRozan was the biggest name in that group, and waiving him was the cleanest way to open up minutes for younger players.
The Kings still owed DeRozan real money on his contract. Waiving him created a stretch provision opportunity that spreads the cap hit over multiple years. That is not free, but it gives Sacramento flexibility to sign other pieces that fit their new timeline.
DeRozan himself said publicly he was disappointed with the decision but understood the business side. That is the professional response, and DeRozan has always been a class act about these things.
Which Team Is the Best Fit
The Cavaliers make the most basketball sense. Cleveland has been looking for a veteran wing scorer who can create shots when possessions break down. DeRozan is exactly that guy. He would fit next to Donovan Mitchell and give the Cavs a real closing option in tight games.
The Heat are always interesting. Miami’s culture would benefit DeRozan and DeRozan would benefit from Miami’s structure. His workout ethic and professionalism are legendary. That fits the Heat way perfectly. The cap piece is complicated, but Pat Riley finds a way when he wants to.
The Nuggets are trying to get back to the finals after their post-championship dip. They need scoring depth around Jokic. DeRozan could be a real answer there, though the fit next to Jamal Murray on the perimeter has some questions.
The Wizards are a longer shot. They are still rebuilding, and adding a 36-year-old veteran does not really fit their timeline. Unless Washington is trying to make one competitive push, which does not really match anything about their organizational direction.
What DeRozan Wants
He wants to compete. He has three All-NBA appearances and zero conference finals wins. That is the resume gap he wants to close. Nothing else really matters at this stage of his career.
A shorter, higher-value deal on a contender makes sense. He is not chasing a max. He is chasing a ring. Any team offering him a legitimate shot to play meaningful minutes on a title contender is going to be in the mix.
His agent will move fast on this. The market will not stay this open for long. Contenders that want him will be aggressive because the alternative is losing him to a competitor who might use him against you in April.
The Bottom Line
DeRozan on a good team could be a real playoff difference-maker. His midrange scoring, his ability to create in the half-court, and his experience in tight games all matter more in the postseason than in the regular season. That is exactly the profile teams should be paying for right now.
Expect this to resolve within a week. DeRozan is not going to sit around unsigned as camp opens. Whichever team gets him is going to look meaningfully better in October, and the entire playoff picture will shift a little bit as a result.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
