When free agency and trade season really starts rolling after the 2026 NBA Draft, there is going to be a flurry of action. That will likely include the Sacramento Kings moving DeMar DeRozan, either through a trade or simply buying him out, the current rumor being he'll be waived shortly.
The issue between the Kings and the six-time All-Star has nothing to do with the player. DeRozan remains one of the elite shooters in the game, particularly in the mid-range. The man is 17 seasons into his career, and still putting up solid numbers while generally being injury-free.
What the problem boils down to is that the previous front office brought DeRozan to Sacramento with no plan beyond bringing him to Sacramento. There was no thesis behind the composition of the roster, which was incredibly imbalanced to a borderline historic level. DeRozan was set up for failure.
Now that Scott Perry is the general manager, there is a rebuild underway, one that DeRozan does not fit into. He's a square peg that the Kings are working on building a round hole around. He deserves the opportunity to play for a team that will put him to better use, such as the Lakers or the Clippers.
The Kings will set DeRozan free in Southern California
It's quite likely that Sacramento is already talking trades for DeRozan. Both teams in Los Angeles have shown interest in the past as having a veteran shooter coming off the bench would be huge for them. The Heat have also been in the mix, but it's hard to say how the Giannis trade will change things.
The Kings are expected to waive DeMar DeRozan if they cannot find a trade partner, per @MikeAScotto
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 23, 2026
The Clippers are considered the favorites to sign him.
“In the midst of a rebuild and over the first apron, barring an unexpected trade, the Sacramento Kings are expected to… pic.twitter.com/p0wbyXU7rl
Unless there is real interest in place, it shouldn't be a surprise if DeRozan gets waived by the Kings so fast the Flash is jealous. The final year of his contract only has $10 million guaranteed, meaning Sacramento can move him without taking a huge hit from the buy out scenario.
The reality it that the Kings need to make room, both on the roster and in the payroll, as quickly as possible in the offseason. They have free agent decisions to make, and that will get delayed the longer they wait on player like DeRozan. It's time for big, bold moves from Perry.
Again, the preference would be to trade him, hopefully for future draft capital over another player. Realistically, the Kings can only wait a short period of time before they have to start making hard choices. Then again, the decision seems like it's already been made.
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