DeMar DeRozan has been a free agent since July 6, when Sacramento waived him with $10 million of his final-year salary guaranteed. Six weeks later, he still hasn’t signed anywhere. And the silence around one of the league’s steadiest scorers says more about the market than it does about DeRozan.
The Kings cut the six-time All-Star after two seasons – 20.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 4.3 assists per game in 154 games, with Sacramento running low on cap space and pivoting toward a younger roster. DeRozan wanted at least a piece of a team’s Mid-Level Exception. The market didn’t rush to meet him.
Why no deal yet
Part of the holdup, per Hoops Rumors, was LeBron James. While James deliberated for weeks before choosing Philadelphia, teams with cap flexibility held their breath and their budgets. Once LeBron signed in late July, the market cracked open – but veteran deals have moved slowly, with front offices still assessing their rosters after a summer of blockbuster trades.
DeRozan is 37. His mid-range game remains elite – arguably the best in the league at his age – and he’s a proven locker-room presence. But contenders weigh longevity against need, and the teams with the most cap space are still in building mode.
Who’s in the mix
The Detroit Pistons have drawn attention as a serious candidate. They sit well below the tax line and want more offensive creation around Cade Cunningham. DeRozan’s isolation scoring and pick-and-roll game would fit J.B. Bickerstaff’s system. The Cavaliers have also checked in, as have the Heat – though Miami’s cap maneuvering this summer may limit what they can offer.
The Denver Nuggets entered the conversation with interest at the minimum level. DeRozan reportedly wants more than that.
At 17 seasons and counting, this may be his final run. Where he lands matters less than whether he can help a team that actually needs what he brings – a guy who can get to the line, create late-clock buckets, and keep veterans accountable in the locker room. Not every team can claim to need all three. But some do.
Sources: ESPN; Hoops Rumors; Yahoo Sports.
