The Kings have decided to waive DeMar DeRozan, setting up the veteran forward to hit unrestricted free agency if the move is finalized in the coming hours. The decision closes the door on a trade solution and puts one of the league’s most durable scorers back on the open market.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Sacramento and DeRozan’s camp explored the trade market but could not find a workable deal. That leaves the Kings with a clean roster decision around a salary that had only been partially guaranteed.
What Sacramento stands to gain
DeRozan is due a $25.74MM salary for the 2026/27 league year, but only $10MM of that amount was guaranteed. If the Kings use the stretch provision, they can spread that partial guarantee across three seasons and create more than $22MM in cap savings for 2026/27.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| 2026/27 Salary | $25.74MM |
| Partial Guarantee | $10MM |
| Potential Cap Savings | More than $22MM |
| Stretch Window | Three seasons |
That move would push Sacramento well out of apron territory and below the luxury tax line. ESPN’s Bobby Marks noted that the team does not have to decide immediately, and the stretch decision only needs to be made before the end of August.
Why the timing matters
Keeping the full $10MM on the books for 2026/27 would leave the Kings slightly above the tax threshold, according to Yossi Gozlan of HoopsHype. Even so, that approach could still make sense if the front office makes other cost-cutting moves, because it would keep DeRozan off the cap for the following two years.
If Sacramento does stretch the partial guarantee, DeRozan would be ineligible to re-sign with the team. That is unlikely to matter, since the expectation is that the 17-year veteran will look for a role on a playoff team.
What DeRozan still brings
DeRozan will turn 37 in August, but he remains a productive and durable scorer, especially in late-game situations. He played in 77 games in 2025/26 and averaged 18.4 points, 2.9 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 31.2 minutes per game.
The Kings acquired him from Chicago in a three-team trade in the summer of 2024, and he has spent the past two seasons in Sacramento. His next move now depends on whether the waiver process is completed and how soon free agency opens for him afterward.
