The Sacramento Kings officially waived veteran forward DeMar DeRozan, ending his 17-year tenure with the club. The 36-year-old wing, who entered the season as the team's leading scorer, became a free agent after the organization decided to part ways.
General manager Scott Perry explained that the decision was driven by the financial realities of the league. He said, "Since the season is over, when we can start looking at different moves to make, we were trying to figure out ways how we could keep him. But as we all know, one of the things in this league, there is a financial component to this job. So unfortunately, we weren't able to figure anything out or do anything that would allow us to keep him from that standpoint. But I'm gonna miss him."
DeRozan was under contract for nearly $26 million for the upcoming season, but only $10 million of that amount was guaranteed. By waiving him, the Kings remove roughly $15 million in salary while retaining a $10 million dead-money charge on their books. The move provides immediate cap relief while preserving flexibility for future moves.
From a roster perspective, the waiver opens a roster spot for the Kings' younger core, which includes emerging talent such as Keegan Murray and several rookie prospects. The cleared space allows Sacramento to explore low-cost additions that better align with its focus on pace, spacing, and defensive versatility.
As a free agent, DeRozan will now test the market, and teams will assess how his veteran scoring ability fits into their plans. For the Kings, the freed cap space can be redirected toward draft picks, trade assets, or a young wing addition that supports the team's rebuilding timeline.
The organization still faces a decision by the end of August on whether to keep the $10 million on its books for the upcoming season or to stretch it, a maneuver that would further ease salary-cap pressure. Whatever the choice, the waiver marks a clear financial cleanup and a strategic pivot toward a younger, more flexible roster.
