Overview
- The Sacramento Kings waived DeMar DeRozan to reduce payroll and luxury-tax exposure, a move that freed him to pursue free agency after the team announced the waiver on July 6.
- Multiple teams have evaluated DeRozan, with the Miami Heat and Detroit Pistons among the clubs most frequently linked and Toronto, Cleveland and Golden State also reported as potential suitors.
- Insiders say many front offices are in a holding pattern because they are waiting on LeBron James’s decision before making big roster moves or committing salary to DeRozan.
- League sources and analysts expect DeRozan to accept a reduced or veteran-minimum deal if he signs, a scenario driven by his age, contract expectations and teams’ cap constraints.
- DeRozan averaged about 18.4 points and shot near 49.7% from the field last season, a scoring profile that offers interior efficiency but limited three-point spacing, which will shape where he fits and how teams use him.