Heat, Nuggets, Wizards in bidding war for $305M future Hall of Famer, 17-year veteran, 6x All-Star originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The NBA is still alive and well, with free agency nowhere near over and several notable names still unsigned. Veterans such as LeBron James and Bradley Beal have already found new homes for next season.
Then there are veterans like DeMar DeRozan, who remains available. The six-time All-Star became a free agent after being released by the Sacramento Kings.
“The Sacramento Kings have waived DeMar DeRozan, the team announced Monday, making the six-time All-Star one of the top free agents on the market. DeRozan had a partial guarantee on his contract for next season, but he and Sacramento worked on his release to allow him to find a new home. Multiple contenders are expected to have interest in the veteran guard," ESPN wrote.
It is somewhat surprising that DeRozan has not chosen a team for next season, considering he is one of the biggest names remaining on the market. However, it appears the veteran is not in a rush to make a decision.
“This is generally the slowest time of the year and there's no urgency for DeMar to find a spot," reported Doug Smith of the Toronto Star. "I still think Brooklyn, Miami, Portland and Denver are interesting spots where he'd fit. There's just no sense anyone's in any rush."
Now, another team has entered the pursuit of DeRozan, with the Washington Wizards expressing interest in the veteran scorer.
“The Wizards shifted their intent to sign another veteran this offseason by showing some interest in DeMar DeRozan, pursuing the former All-Star swingman along with teams such as Miami and Denver,” The Stein Line’s Marc Stein wrote.
This adds another team to the mix for the future Hall of Famer. The Nuggets and Heat may have an advantage in the race because they are legitimate contenders heading into next season, while Washington is still in the process of building its roster.
DeRozan has made $305 million throughout his career. Washington has acquired Trae Young and Anthony Davis, but the Wizards have yet to prove they can compete at the highest level as a team. That makes the race to land DeRozan even more intriguing as the veteran weighs his options.
More NBA news:
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- Cavaliers reportedly closing in on trade to acquire $11M NBA Champion from the Nuggets
- Heat reportedly miss out on $15M reunion with former fan favorite, amid disappointing free agency
- Cavaliers predicted to sign $305M future Hall of Famer, 6x All-Star to pair with James Harden
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