The Sacramento Kings waived 36-year-old DeMar DeRozan on Monday, a move that was coordinated after an initial trade discussion fell through. The veteran will clear waivers and become an unrestricted free agent on Wednesday, opening the door for any team to sign him. Insider Jake Fischer immediately flagged the Toronto Raptors and the Miami Heat as the two clubs most likely to pursue the former Raptors star.

DeRozan remains the franchise’s all-time leading scorer with 13,296 points, a margin that eclipses Kyle Lowry’s 10,540 and Chris Bosh’s 10,275. Over 1,264 career games he has averaged 21.1 points, 4.1 assists and 4.3 rebounds per contest. Last season with Sacramento he posted 18.4 points on 49.7 percent shooting, added 4.1 assists and 2.9 rebounds in 31.2 minutes per game across 77 appearances. He had been set to earn nearly $26 million in the 2026-27 season, a figure that would likely shrink dramatically if he returns to Toronto on a modest deal.

Toronto’s projected starting five , Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, Kawhi Leonard, Scottie Barnes and Jakob Poeltl , leaves no obvious slot for DeRozan. The veteran has started every game of his 17-year career; the only bench appearances came in his rookie season, 12 games between March 26 and April 14, 2010. The Raptors would therefore have to ask a player who has never been a reserve to accept a bench role, a scenario that could affect both his rhythm and the team’s continuity.

Leonard’s recent acquisition underscores Toronto’s willingness to spend for immediate impact. The Raptors traded Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, unprotected 2031 and 2033 first-round picks, a 2027 first-round swap and two second-round picks to bring the former Clippers star back on June 30. Leonard averaged 27.9 points in 65 games last season, earned second-team All-NBA honors and is owed $50.3 million next season. Adding DeRozan on a veteran-minimum contract would provide a familiar scoring presence without jeopardizing the cap space already allocated to Leonard.

If Toronto decides that a bench role is not viable, Miami emerges as the next logical destination, given the Heat’s expressed interest and their need for veteran scoring. The free-agency clock now ticks, and the Raptors must determine whether DeRozan’s scoring pedigree can translate into a productive bench spark or whether his homecoming belongs elsewhere.