The Sacramento Kings are cutting DeMar DeRozan loose. A six-time All-Star with a career full of buckets, and Sacramento could not find anyone to take him in a trade.
The Kings officially waived DeRozan after failing to move him on the trade market. Only $10 million of his $25.7 million salary for the coming season was guaranteed, which made the math work for a rebuilding team that just went 22-60 and finished 14th in the West.
Both sides reportedly agreed the split was best for everyone. That is polite front office speak for “we are bad and you are still useful, so let us stop pretending this fits.”
What DeRozan Actually Is at 36
DeRozan remains one of the most reliable mid-range scorers in the league. He can still create his own shot in isolation better than most wings in the game. He put up 20-plus a night in Sacramento even as the losses piled up around him.
Yes, he does not shoot threes. His defense is a problem in a playoff series. And he is closer to the end than the beginning.
None of that changes the fact that he is a starting-caliber scorer who just hit the open market for the price of a veteran minimum. Contenders should be sprinting.
The Rockets Should Sign Him Today
Houston is the perfect fit. They have a young roster full of athletes and defenders, but they have needed a reliable half-court scorer for two years. DeRozan gives them a bail-out option in late-clock situations and takes real pressure off Alperen Sengun.
Ime Udoka would use him the right way, too. DeRozan does not need to play 34 minutes anymore. He needs 26 to 28 minutes, a defined role, and the ball late.
Houston can offer all of that with a legitimate path to a top-four seed in the West.
The Knicks Are the Sneaky Pick
New York needs another shot creator to take pressure off Jalen Brunson in the playoffs. DeRozan is exactly that. He could play alongside Brunson in the starting lineup or come off the bench as a second-unit engine, and the Knicks would be better either way.
The catch is Tom Thibodeau’s minutes. DeRozan needs someone who will actually manage his workload. That is not Thibs.
The Lakers Should Also Call
LA has been quietly looking for a veteran scorer to help LeBron and Luka. DeRozan on a minimum is exactly the kind of low-cost, high-upside swing the Lakers should be taking every summer.
DeRozan grew up in Compton. He would take a discount to come home and chase a ring at the end of his career. That combination does not come around often.
Why This Is Actually a Steal for Somebody
Six-time All-Stars do not usually hit the market at 36 in exchange for nothing. When they do, contenders should treat it like a fire sale on a Ferrari. Yes, the tires are worn. The engine still runs.
DeRozan is going to help a good team win playoff games this year. The only question is which good team is smart enough to figure that out first.
My money is on Houston. They need him more than anyone else on the contending tier. Ime Udoka calls DeRozan’s agent today or he is coaching the wrong version of this roster.
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.
