Kings reportedly waive DeMar DeRozan, clearing a path to free agency

The Sacramento Kings are reportedly moving on from DeMar DeRozan by waiving him, which would make the veteran forward an unrestricted free agent. According to multiple NBA offseason reports, Sacramento’s decision follows months of stalled trade discussions and a desire to get the financial flexibility needed to operate under the luxury-tax threshold.

The financial logic, as described in the reporting, is straightforward. One report says the Kings can save roughly $15 million by waiving DeRozan, while another details the structure of his current deal: DeRozan carries a $25.7 million cap number for the coming season, but only $10 million is guaranteed. In a classic “waive-and-stretch” scenario, Sacramento would spread the guaranteed amount over three seasons, reducing what the Kings must count in the short term. The same reporting says the move would save about $22 million this season and take Sacramento below the luxury tax line.

DeRozan’s interest, per the reporting, was also a factor in the timeline. The forward reportedly wanted Sacramento to make a decision that would allow him to reach the open market before market opportunities tightened, either via a trade or, failing that, a waiver that would let him negotiate freely. That framing matters because it can influence how other teams plan their offseason, especially those waiting to see whether a midrange, shot-creation wing becomes available without surrendering assets.

On the court, DeRozan’s recent production gives the waiver its market value. The reporting says he averaged 18.4 points and 4.1 assists with the Kings last season, and it also points to a shooting improvement, citing a 0.497 field-goal percentage. While his scoring total represented a decline from the peak of his career, the numbers still suggest he remained an efficient half-court option and a meaningful secondary playmaker.

The reports also emphasize the fit question every team will have to answer. DeRozan’s offensive profile is traditionally built around midrange efficiency and self-creation rather than heavy three-point volume. That can be appealing for teams that want shot-making without forcing their offensive identity to change, but it can also be a concern for organizations trying to maximize spacing and pace. How teams evaluate that tradeoff will likely determine what kind of role DeRozan lands next.

For Sacramento, the move does not erase the Kings’ immediate title-picture constraints, but it does change their roster-building options. Reporting notes that Sacramento still has Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine on the roster while continuing to look for trades, meaning this waiver may be less about resetting the roster from scratch and more about adjusting the financial and rotational chessboard.

What to watch next is how quickly DeRozan receives interest and what he is willing to accept contractually in order to join a contender. The reporting says he is looking for a regular role on a playoff team and has shown openness to a smaller deal if it increases his chances of competing. With DeRozan expected to turn 37 before next season, the decision will likely center on how contenders want to use veteran offense late in games rather than on long-term upside.

If the waiver is confirmed through league and team transaction channels, it will become one of the more consequential “clearing moves” of the summer for a team near the luxury-tax line. For the Kings, it buys room to maneuver. For the league, it adds a proven half-court scorer to a market where teams often overpay for specificity in the postseason.