LeBron James chose the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Miami Heat moved on. That’s free agency. You swing for the fence, you come up empty, and then you’ve got to figure out what’s left on the board.
What’s left, at least in Miami’s case, appears to be DeMar DeRozan. The Heat and the six-time All-Star have had mutual interest in the past, and fresh conversations are expected now that James is off the board, according to Yahoo Sports, citing HoopsHype. As of Monday, though, the Miami Herald reported that the Heat had made no assurances to DeRozan and hadn’t told him whether he’d be pursued. In other words, Miami was keeping its options open — the way a coach keeps a depth chart in pencil, not ink.
The fit question cuts both ways. The Heat traded for Giannis Antetokounmpo earlier this offseason, pairing him with Bam Adebayo in the frontcourt. That’s two elite rim-runners and rim-protectors. What it isn’t, by any measure, is a shooting arsenal. LeBron has spent two decades needing the floor spaced — catch-and-shoot guys on the wings, a pick-and-pop big, somebody who makes the defense pay for sagging. Miami’s roster, as currently constructed, asks LeBron to join Giannis and Bam in what would essentially be a three-man demolition derby toward the rim. The film doesn’t lie: you clog the paint against that group, and the offense grinds to a halt.
Whether that calculus factored into James’s decision is known only to him and his inner circle. The result is what matters. Philadelphia got its man, and the teams that positioned themselves around LeBron’s market — Cleveland, Golden State, Miami — now have to pivot.
DeRozan became available when the Sacramento Kings waived him in a cost-cutting move on July 9, saving $15.7 million against the luxury tax. His $25.7 million salary was only guaranteed for $10 million. Kings general manager Scott Perry, speaking to the Sacramento Bee, called DeRozan “one of my favorite players to work with” in 26 years in the league and praised his leadership with younger players. The business end of the NBA doesn’t care about sentiment, though. The checkbook does.
DeRozan averaged better than 18 points last season. He’s 35, no longer the All-NBA caliber wing he was in Toronto, but he can still get you a bucket in the mid-range — that lost art that analytics buried and guys who actually run offenses still quietly value. Chris Haynes reported on July 16 that DeRozan was drawing interest from the same teams pursuing LeBron, leaving him in a holding pattern until James made his choice. Jake Fischer, speaking on Bleacher Report, said DeRozan would “almost certainly” land on a veteran minimum deal somewhere, with Miami, Cleveland, and Golden State among the likely suitors if they missed on LeBron.
The Toronto Raptors loom as well. A source close to DeRozan told the Toronto Star he would welcome a return “if everything works out,” and the Raptors front office has reportedly been weighing the possibility. The Detroit Pistons were also evaluating whether to enter the bidding, per Marc Stein. The Clippers remain a natural fit given DeRozan’s Compton roots.
For Miami, the question is whether DeRozan solves anything or just fills a roster spot. He doesn’t space the floor. He doesn’t defend at an elite level anymore. What he does is score in isolation, draw fouls, and bring a professional’s approach to the building every day. On a team built around Giannis and Bam, that might be enough. Or it might be putting a bandage on a wound that needs stitches.
The Heat will make their call. DeRozan will wait for it, the way he’s waited for everything this month. And LeBron will be in Philadelphia, which is where he decided he needed to be.
- Yahoo Sports / HoopsHype — Miami Heat, DeMar DeRozan expected to have fresh conversations following LeBron decision
- Yahoo Sports / HoopsHype — Miami Heat, DeMar DeRozan expected to have fresh conversations following LeBron decision