DeMar DeRozan wanted Sacramento to make a decision: Either waive him (and save $15 million) so he could get on the market before space dried up, or find a trade as they have been trying to do for more than a year.
DeRozan got his wish, the Kings are waiving DeRozan and making him a free agent, reports Shams Charania of ESPN.
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DeRozan has a $25.7 million contract for this season, but only $10 million of that is guaranteed. This will almost certainly be a waive-and-stretch for Sacramento, spreading the $10 million he is owed over three seasons (at $3.3 million per year), which will save the team about $22 million this season and take them below the luxury tax line.
This move was expected by other front offices around the league (and part of the reason there was no trade market for DeRozan, interested teams knew they could just sign him as a free agent for way less money, and they wouldn’t have to give up anything).
DeRozan, who will turn 37 before next season, is still a bucket. He has a specific game — he’s an old-school midrange assassin, but who can create his own shot — and averaged 18.4 points per game last season in Sacramento. There will be interest in him, and he is reportedly looking for a regular role on a playoff team.
The Kings still have Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine on their roster and continue to look for trades for them.
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