The DeMar DeRozan era in Sacramento is over. The Kings are waiving the veteran forward, instantly dropping the six-time All-Star into the thick of the summer free agent market and closing the book on the team’s recent veteran-heavy gamble in favor of more flexibility around its younger core.
The decision was described as collaborative and came after weeks of trade talks that never quite turned into a deal. According to The New York Times, the Kings chose to move on after exploring possible trades. NBA.com reported that DeRozan will become an unrestricted free agent once he clears waivers.
Why Sacramento Is Making The Move
This is mostly about money and a reset after a rough season. Sacramento finished 22-60 last year and, with Zach LaVine’s sizable option looming, is sitting close to the first luxury-tax apron, which limits the types of trades it can pull off, according to The Sacramento Bee. Reporting first from HoopsHype and then picked up by outlets including Yahoo Sports indicates the Kings prefer to waive and stretch DeRozan’s deal rather than take back another big contract in a trade.
The Salary Math: What "Waive And Stretch" Means
DeRozan is owed roughly $25.74 million for the 2026-27 season, with about $10 million of that guaranteed, per contract reporting. By using the league’s stretch provision, Sacramento could spread that guaranteed money over three seasons, trimming the immediate cap hit to around $3 million per year. The team has to decide whether to use that mechanism by the Aug. 31 stretch deadline, according to Sports Illustrated and Hoops Rumors.
DeRozan's Market: Who Might Call?
Even at 36, DeRozan is hardly washed. He averaged 18.4 points per game and started 77 games last season, and his resume features six All-Star appearances and three All-NBA selections, as noted on NBA.com. He is not the primary option he once was, but he can still get to his spots and close games.
League chatter has pointed toward West Coast teams as likely suitors, with the Los Angeles Clippers often mentioned as a logical landing spot if he clears waivers. Where he ends up will probably come down to how ready he is to accept a smaller role or a veterans-minimum type deal, according to coverage from Bleacher Report.
For the Kings, the breakup opens space to speed up a roster reset and funnel more minutes to the younger players the front office highlighted at the draft, The Sacramento Bee reported. Now the pressure shifts to the front office to turn that financial wiggle room into actual upgrades after a 22-win slog.
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