Toronto Raptors Should Sign DeMar DeRozan
The Sacramento Kings let go of swingman DeMar DeRozan on July 6 after they waived him and paid out only the $10 million guaranteed portion of his $25.74 million salary for next season.
DeRozan can still play -- he averaged 18.4 points last year for Sacramento -- but with the Kings facing luxury tax issues, it made more sense to cut him and save money as the team is not a title contender.
Now that DeRozan has cleared waivers and is an unrestricted free agent, he's expected to field offers from several contenders who would like to bring him in as a scoring threat at the veteran's minimum salary.
One of those teams that should be calling DeRozan immediately is his old club, the Toronto Raptors, where he spent the first nine seasons of his NBA career.
With the Raptors bringing back old friend Kawhi Leonard in a blockbuster trade with the Los Angeles Clippers, plus recently signing DeRozan's best buddy Kyle Lowry to a one-day retirement contract, the vibes are good right now in Dinoland, and it should lead to DeRozan's return.
DeRozan is a Raptors legend, as he's played more games for Toronto (675) than any other player in franchise history.
It's time to bring him home.
The Raptors need DeRozan, and he needs the Raptors. They have to get this done.
DeMar DeRozan Can Be Raptors Sixth Man
The Raptors could use DeRozan's scoring punch as their first man off the bench.
Indeed, DeRozan hasn't come off the bench in the NBA since his rookie season with the Raptors way back in 2009-10. But at age 36, it's the right time for DeRozan to transition to a bench player after having been a starter for the past 16 seasons with the Raptors, San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls, and Kings.
Say what you want about DeRozan -- his defense isn't great, and neither is his three-point shooting -- but the man is what I call a "professional scorer." He simply knows how to get to the bucket and score.
In NBA history, DeRozan has scored 26,711 points, which is 16th all-time and fifth among active players. The man has a gift for scoring, and he has been doing it for 17 seasons in the NBA.
The Raptors could use his scoring, but the team doesn't have a starting spot to offer him. But if he is okay with coming off the bench, DeRozan could be one of the best sixth men in the league and potentially win the award for that honor next season.
He could also spell Leonard when he misses time, as Leonard typically misses 20 games per season. Those are games that DeRozan can fill in for Leonard in the team's starting lineup.
Plus, DeRozan still wants to win a ring, and he can do that in Toronto, which has one of the best rosters in the Eastern Conference.
Bring him home and give him a chance to win a chip in Toronto.
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DeMar DeRozan Will Have Options
I really do think the Raptors should sign DeRozan, and I think they need to do it soon, because if they wait around too long, they'll risk him signing with another team.
For instance, the Miami Heat lost a lot of depth in the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade. They need to fill out their bench, and DeRozan is someone who has been heavily rumored to be going to South Beach for the veteran's minimum to chase a ring.
If teams linked to LeBron James, like the Denver Nuggets and the Cleveland Cavaliers, miss out on James, then they could pivot to DeRozan as a scoring option instead.
Related: Where LeBron James Needs to Sign to Win a Fifth Ring
The aforementioned Clippers are not a contender, but they are DeRozan's hometown team, and they could use his scoring, too, so don't be surprised if they make a run for him, either.
Basically, DeRozan is going to have options. It's not like he's some washed-up bum. He's still a very good player, and he's going to find minutes on an NBA court next season.
But it should be with Toronto in a true full-circle moment. Poor DeRozan wasn't with the Raptors when they won their only NBA Championship in 2019, as he was traded for Leonard before that season.
But seven years later, he can come back and win a chip in Leonard's second go-around with the team.
Get it done, Raptors. Bring home DeRozan and make the fans happy and the players happy. The basketball Gods want it to happen, so don't overthink it. Just get it done.
Related: Raptors Correctly Go All In With Kawhi Leonard Trade
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This story was originally published July 8, 2026 at 7:28 PM.