Heat and Cavs predicted to battle for former $85 million All-NBA wing

The Sacramento Kings have cut ties with DeMar DeRozan after just two seasons.

ESPN's Shams Charania reported that Sacramento waived DeRozan on Monday. The team acquired the former All-NBA forward in a sign-and-trade involving the Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs during the 2024 offseason.

DeRozan is now expected to have a market filled with contending teams in free agency, but there are reportedly two frontrunners for the six-time All-Star.

Heat and Cavs heavily linked to DeMar DeRozan

Matt George of Sactown Sports 1140 said on Monday night that the two teams that have been connected to DeRozan the most have been the Miami Heat and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

George also mentioned both Los Angeles teams, the Lakers and Clippers, as possible landing spots. However, ESPN's Dave McMenamin did say the Lakers aren't in the market for DeRozan.

"The two teams that we seem to hear the most chatter about in terms of potential landing destinations for DeMar DeRozan, the Miami Heat, who of course just traded for Giannis Antetokounmpo, and the Cleveland Cavaliers, who are a team I long thought could use the services of DeMar, especially in that second unit off of the bench," George said on the Sactown Sports 1140 YouTube channel. "Of course, we've always heard LA ties, right? He is from LA, from Compton, very much a Los Angeles guy. So, we've always talked about the possibility of DeMar going home. Whether it's the LA Clippers or the LA Lakers, it seems like the Clippers would be the more likely out of the two."

Miami makes sense as a destination for DeRozan. Erik Spoelstra's squad could use another three-level scorer who can create their own shot and post efficient offensive production, and DeRozan would fit that role perfectly.

Cleveland is in pursuit of LeBron James, and as of right now, they seem to be the favorite to land the 22-time All-Star. However, if the Cavs don't end up signing James, DeRozan would be a viable backup plan who would add more playoff experience and scoring on the wing to pair with Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, who is expected to re-sign with the team at some point this summer.

Overall, DeRozan is still a valuable player who averaged 18.4 points per game in 2025 and has also played over 70 games in each of the last five years. The 36-year-old should have plenty of suitors on the open market, including Cleveland and Miami, so we'll have to wait and see where the USC product will play in 2026.