Photo credit: DeMar DeRozan (Instagram)
The Sacramento Kings are moving on from DeMar DeRozan. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Monday that the Kings decided to waive the veteran forward. Assuming the team officially cuts him in the coming hours, DeRozan will reach unrestricted free agency on Wednesday. The outcome had been widely anticipated given the structure of his contract.
Why the Kings are moving on
DeRozan’s salary for the 2026-27 league year stood at $25.74 million. However, only $10 million of that figure carried a guarantee. Sacramento explored the trade market with DeRozan and his representatives but ultimately could not find a workable deal. Waiving him became the most practical path forward for both sides.
The Kings now face a financial decision with real cap implications. If they use the stretch provision to spread DeRozan’s $10 million partial guarantee across the next three seasons, they would generate more than $22 million in cap savings for 2026-27. That move would take the team well out of apron territory and below the luxury tax line. According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, Sacramento does not need to make that decision immediately. The deadline to stretch the money is August 29.
Alternatively, keeping the full $10 million on the books for 2026-27 would leave the Kings slightly above the tax threshold. However, HoopsHype’s Yossi Gozlan notes that approach could still make sense if Sacramento makes additional cost-cutting moves. Keeping the full amount on the books avoids a $3.33 million cap hit in each of the following two seasons.
One important note on the stretch provision: if the Kings elect to stretch DeRozan’s partial guarantee, he becomes ineligible to re-sign with Sacramento. Given the circumstances of his departure, that restriction is unlikely to matter. The expectation across the league is that DeRozan will seek a role elsewhere, specifically on a team where he can contribute regularly in playoff competition.
What DeRozan brings to the table
Despite turning 37 in August, DeRozan remains a productive and durable NBA player. He appeared in 77 games for Sacramento during the 2025-26 season, averaging 18.4 points, 2.9 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 31.2 minutes per game. Those numbers reflect a player still operating at a meaningful level and one of the league’s most reliable crunch-time scorers.
DeRozan joined the Kings ahead of the 2024-25 season as part of a three-team trade with Chicago. He spent two years in Sacramento before the team decided to move in a different direction this offseason. His 17-year NBA career has included stops with the Toronto Raptors, San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls and now the Kings, with a reputation built on mid-range excellence, late-game poise and remarkable consistency.
What comes next
With unrestricted free agency opening on Wednesday, DeRozan will have his choice of destinations. Teams looking for veteran scoring, playoff experience and locker room presence will find him an attractive option. Furthermore, his ability to create his own shot in half-court situations and close games remains genuinely valuable, particularly for teams trying to add a reliable secondary scorer without committing to a long-term max deal.
For Sacramento, the move signals a broader roster reset as the franchise looks to reconfigure its financial situation and competitive direction heading into the 2026-27 season.
Source: Hoops Rumors / ESPN
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