News Every Day | 02 July 2024, 21:13

Heat have expressed interest in DeMar DeRozan, DeRozan mutually interested

The Heat has expressed interest in Bulls free agent guard DeMar DeRozan, and DeRozan also has interest in Miami, according to two sources with knowledge of the situation. The Heat is among several teams in play for the six-time All Star. But there are still significant challenges that could ultimately prevent a Heat/DeRozan marriage. The biggest: At the moment, the only way that Miami could add him would be if he accepts the Heat’s $5.2 million taxpayer midlevel exception or even less likely, a minimum contract. Those are the Heat’s only non-trade avenues to add players. That $5.2 million is below what DeRozan is seeking.
Source: Miami Herald

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Barry Jackson @flasportsbuzz
NEW: Heat calls on DeMar DeRozan, and DeRozan also has interest in Miami, per multiple sources. But Lakers, others also reportedly involved
miamiherald.com/sports/nba/mia…
Here are the precise rules complications with Miami acquiring DeRozan.. World got confirmation today that Mitchell – 1:38 PM

The Ringer @ringernba
📝 The Mavs got way better
📝 The Lauri Markkanen sleeper team
📝 DeMar DeRozan could be the steal of the summer
@KevinOConnorNBA’s free agency observations: theringer.com/nba/2024/7/2/2… – 11:44 AM

Darnell Mayberry @DarnellMayberry
The Lakers have been quiet so far in free agency. Could DeMar DeRozan change that?
(Story by ⁦@jovanbuha⁩) nytimes.com/athletic/56105… – 11:31 AM

Marc Stein @TheSteinLine
🎙️📻: A NEW #thisleague UNCUT podcast alongside @ChrisBHaynes is out. Covering …
🏀 Paul George, Klay Thompson and more free agency moves (and misses)
🏀 New power struggle atop the East
🏀 Shifting focus now to DeMar DeRozan and trades
FULL POD: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pau… – 10:47 AM

Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
NBA Free Agency 2024: What next for LeBron James, DeMar DeRozan? sun-sentinel.com/2024/06/30/nba… Process about to move to second tier. – 9:00 AM

Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Where the NBA free-agency list stands: sun-sentinel.com/2024/06/30/nba… Top remaining: LeBron James, DeMar DeRozan, Miles Bridges, Gary Trent Jr., Caleb Martin, Buddy Hield, Saddiq Bey, Tyus Jones, Haywood Highsmith, Lonnie Walker IV, Kyle Lowry, Luke Kennard. – 8:28 AM

Evan Sidery @esidery
DeMar DeRozan is the final free agent remaining who LeBron James is willing to take a $20 million pay cut for, per @jovanbuha (nytimes.com/athletic/56105…).
The Lakers and Bulls have discussed the possibility of a sign-and-trade involving DeRozan. pic.twitter.com/v01GBMktHq – 7:54 AM

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GRevun8W0AA7VcD.jpg

Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
NEW POD: Klay Thompson passes on the Lakers, NBA free agency disappointment, DeMar DeRozan the next pivot? via @BleavNetwork
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kla… pic.twitter.com/QbguDwG0SJ – 10:01 PM

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GRcnYp_WgAAQC36.jpg

Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Lakers spurned by Klay Thompson: Is DeMar DeRozan their next target?
— The Lakers pivoting to DeRozan and his fit in LA
— Why I’m skeptical it would work given the weaknesses in his game
— LA’s roster constraints
Watch: youtu.be/QOo2Dg9h4kE pic.twitter.com/40mMhgIjut – 9:56 PM

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GRcmYm5aYAIcAuf.jpg

Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
NBA Free Agency 2024: Klay Thompson to Mavericks; Paul George to 76ers sun-sentinel.com/2024/06/30/nba… Best remaining FAs: LeBron James, DeMar DeRozan, Miles Bridges, Gary Trent Jr., De’Anthony Melton, Caleb Martin, Buddy Hield, Saddiq Bey, Tyus Jones, Gary Harris, Lonnie Walker IV. – 2:47 PM

Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
Guessing the Lakers pivot to DeMar DeRozan? – 2:38 PM

Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
With Klay Thompson off of the board, I assume the Lakers will now move to DeMar DeRozan.
I personally don’t like the fit. If you’re going to have a bad defender I’m of the opinion that he needs to at least be able to make 3’s. But hey, it’s LeBron’s money, not mine. – 2:35 PM

More on this storyline

“The Lakers have interest. How do they acquire DeMar DeRozan. That becomes a much different scenario. LeBron James has talked about a willingness to take significantly less money to open up their mid-level exception. I think in DeMar DeRrozan’s case, and it may not be as appealing to him, but it may look like a one-year deal somewhere. Let the market reset next year because if you do a sign-and-trade, it’s got to be at least three years. And now you’re locked into a three-year deal at a number you may not like. The Lakers are interested, but is there a mechanism that would allow them to create a slot to acquire him. That’s going to be the harder part. It’s tough when you give out the big money, there’s not always money left for a guy like DeMar DeRozan who was an All-Star recently, but we’ll see what happens with him.” -via RealGM / July 2, 2024

With DeMar DeRozan leaving the Chicago Bulls this offseason and a dearth of teams with cap space, he may decide to take a one-year deal at a lower contract figure than anticipated in order to become a free agent again next season when far more teams project to have cap space. If DeRozan chose to do a sign-and-trade agreement, he would be locked into a three-year deal and become unable to recoup his value. “Well, I think there’s interest in DeMar DeRozan, but the kind of contract that he might want just is not going to be available,” said Adrian Wojnarowski on a Tuesday morning Sports Center appearance. “It’s not left out there in the marketplace. The Bulls are more than willing to work on a sign-and-trade agreement to get him the years and money that he might want, but with the new salary cap rules, those are much more difficult for teams to do. -via RealGM / July 2, 2024

If DeRozan took that, Miami would be just below the second apron and would not be able to re-sign Caleb Martin or Haywood Highsmith, who remain in a holding pattern while both those players and the Heat explore all their options. The other option for DeRozan with Miami, which would get DeRozan a salary more in line with his production: If the Heat trades a player earning decent money to a team with cap space — either for draft picks or a player making significantly less. That would be necessary to do a sign-and-trade with the Bulls, because teams above the first apron cannot make sign-and-trades. The Heat has 11 players under contract, not counting Orlando Robinson, whose $2.2 million salary isn’t guaranteed. If Robinson is removed from the equation, the Heat’s payroll – from a tax/cap calculation standpoint – is $180.2 million, counting minimum cap holds for two open roster spots. -via Miami Herald / July 2, 2024