DeRozan and Sacramento near a breaking point

New reporting from Michael Scotto suggests the Sacramento Kings are prepared to waive DeMar DeRozan and stretch his contract if no trade materialises. The veteran forward is owed $25.74 million next season, but only $10 million is guaranteed until January 10, making an exit relatively inexpensive. Should Sacramento cut him, the Clippers are among the teams expected to pursue him.

The Kings face significant cap concerns for 2026–27, with the risk of crossing the first apron despite having only eleven players under contract. Stretching DeRozan’s deal would reduce his cap hit to roughly $3.33 million annually through 2028–29, lowering payroll to around $187.8 million and keeping the team clear of the luxury tax while preserving flexibility for one or two additions.

A trade remains possible but complicated. For salary‑matching purposes, DeRozan’s outgoing value would be $10 million, while his incoming figure for another team would be $25.7 million, likely requiring incentives or adjusted guarantees.