The Heat and free agent Demar DeRozan have had mutual interest in the past, and fresh conversations are expected in the wake of James picking the 76ers.
More on DeMar DeRozan: Recent HoopsHype Rumors
according to a source. — 7/21/2026 Miami HeraldThe Pistons are still evaluating the prospect of pursuing DeMar DeRozan in free agency, league sources say. It is not yet certain if Detroit will indeed join Toronto as a confirmed bidder for the six-time former All-Star guard, but The Stein Line did learn this week that the Pistons have been assessing the concept.
— 7/17/2026 marcstein.substack.com
Chris Haynes: "DeMar is receiving interest from the same teams that LeBron James is receiving interest from. So he is in a holding pattern right now due to LeBron James. So once LeBron picks his destination, then DeMar DeRozan will have a clearer picture on what options are available to him." — 7/16/2026 YouTube
Now, DeRozan’s prospective new teams include ones affected by both James and Leonard. The Heat have tossed around the idea of DeRozan for years, league sources said, but they are in on James. If they don’t acquire one wing scorer, then maybe they turn to another. After all, DeRozan may no longer be an All-Star, but he still averaged more than 18 points last season. — 7/16/2026 New York Times
According to a source close to the beloved former Toronto all-star, DeRozan would welcome a Raptors return “if everything works out,” while other sources — also granted anonymity in order to speak freely on the subject — say the Raptors front office has been thinking about the possibility for some time. — 7/14/2026 Toronto Star
Perry went on to say the Kings were hoping to retain DeRozan. “We were trying to figure out ways we could keep him, but as we all know there is a financial component to this job,” Perry said. “Unfortunately, we weren’t able to figure out anything that would allow us to keep him, but I’m going to miss him. I’ll be honest with you.” — 7/9/2026 Sacramento Bee
The Kings waived DeRozan in a cost-cutting move Monday as Perry works to get the team’s payroll below the luxury tax line. The Kings saved $15.7 million on DeRozan’s $25.7 million salary, which was only guaranteed for $10 million. They can further reduce their payroll if they choose to use the stretch provision to pay out the guaranteed money over three years. “I’ve been in the league 26 years, and (DeRozan) was one of my favorite players to work with,” Perry said during a media scrum at the team’s practice facility. “I’ve worked with some great players, some Hall of Fame players, in my career. His professionalism, his leadership, the way he went about preparing for his job each and every day was exemplary, and how he poured into our young players last year was very important and very much appreciated.” — 7/9/2026 Sacramento Bee
While DeRozan is interested in reuniting with the Raptors, NBA insider Jake Fischer revealed that the former NBA star might likely join teams that will fail to land James in this year's free agency. “He’s almost certainly going to be on a vet minimum somewhere else. Could it be Toronto? ... DeMar has interest in going back to the Raptors, but I think DeMar’s most likely landing spots are going to be teams that don’t get LeBron James," Fischer revealed on Bleacher Report. “I think the Miamis, Cleveland, Golden State, I think those teams are all going to be in the play for him if they don’t get LeBron.” — 7/8/2026 BasketNews
Matt George: The two teams that we seem to hear the most chatter about in terms of potential landing destinations for DeMar DeRozan, the Miami Heat, who of course just traded for Giannis, and the Cleveland Cavaliers, who are a team I long thought could use the services of DeMar, especially in that second unit off of the bench. Of course, we've always heard LA ties, right? He is from LA, from Compton, very much a Los Angeles guy. So, we've always talked about the possibility of DeMar going home. Whether it's the LA Clippers or the LA Lakers, it seems like the Clippers would be the more likely out of the two. — 7/7/2026 YouTube
Kings' rising swingman Nique Clifford is expected to inherit Sacramento's No. 10 worn by DeMar DeRozan for the past two seasons. Clifford wore No. 10 at Colorado State. — 7/7/2026 marcstein.substack.com
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Miami Heat, DeMar DeRozan expected to have fresh conversations following LeBron decision
