DeRozan bids farewell to the Kings and officially enters the free agent market.

July 7th - According to ESPN, the Sacramento Kings have officially waived DeMar DeRozan. The six-time All-Star guard was a hot commodity in this summer's free agency market.

Sources revealed that DeMar DeRozan's contract for next season is only partially guaranteed, and he decided to terminate the contract after discussions with the Kings to find a new team. Several teams with championship aspirations are expected to be interested in the veteran, including those looking to strengthen their rosters after failing to acquire LeBron James.

The Kings waived DeMar DeRozan primarily to reduce salary cap pressure. DeRozan's contract for next season is worth $25.7 million, of which only $10 million is guaranteed. The Kings have the option to spread the remaining guaranteed amount over the next three seasons to help the team reduce its salary burden.

DeMar DeRozan, who will soon turn 37, continues to perform at a high level in his 17th season. Last season, he averaged 18.4 points per game with a field goal percentage close to 50% and missed only 5 games. For the past five seasons, he has played more than 70 games each year.

DeMar DeRozan joined the Sacramento Kings in a trade during the summer of 2024, and the team subsequently acquired his former Bulls teammate Zach LaVine before the 2025 trade deadline. Throughout his career, DeRozan has been selected to the All-NBA Team three times, ranks among the top 25 all-time scorers, and has averaged over 20 points per game for 12 consecutive seasons.

Image source: Internet