While the Miami Heat and two-time All-NBA Second Team wing DeMar DeRozan have a mutual interest, as reported by Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, there is still a huge impediment to completing a trade.
Despite DeRozan’s decreasing market, the six-time NBA All-Star is still looking for more than the non-taxpayer midlevel exception, according to Bleacher Report/TNT NBA insider Chris Haynes.
“So a team is going to have to get really creative if they want to try and offer DeRozan something more than the midlevel exception,” Haynes said on the #ThisLeague Uncut podcast on July 2. “A sign-and-trade agreement is for three years. I know DeRozan will probably be willing to sign a one-year contract. But I don’t see him accepting the entire midlevel exception, which is $13 million.
With the Heat approaching the first apron, they only have the $5.2 million taxpayer midlevel exception and veteran minimum contracts available to sign DeRozan.
The only way they can sign DeRozan is through a sign-and-trade or by dumping some salaries to create the requisite cap space to sign the former Chicago Bulls star for more than the non-taxpayer full MLE, even on a one-year contract.
Pat Riley, president of the Heat, has his work cut out for him to rekindle his magic.
In April, NBC Sports-Chicago’s K.C. Johnson reported that DeRozan declined the Bulls’ two-year offer worth $40 million per year. His market has already diminished, leaving only the rebuilding Detroit Pistons and Utah Jazz with more than $20 million in cap space.
Lakers also interested in DeMar DeRozan.
Riley’s former team, the Los Angeles Lakers, have DeRozan as their strongest challenger.
However, the Lakers are limited in what they can offer DeRozan.
Despite Lakers superstar LeBron James’ willingness to put money on the table to assist the franchise open up the non-taxpayer $12.9 million full midlevel exception, it would be insufficient to land DeRozan.
The Lakers have contacted DeRozan’s agency, but negotiations have halted, according to Bleacher Report/TNT NBA insider Chris Haynes.
“I would consider it frozen,” Haynes stated on the #ThisLeague Uncut podcast on July 2. “Antarctica.”
DeMar DeRozan Predicted to Settle With 1-Year Deal
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, DeRozan will eventually sign a one-year contract and use the next season as a stopgap.
“I think there’s interest in DeMar DeRozan, but the kind of contract that he might want is just not going to be available,” Wojnarowski said on ESPN Sportscenter on July 2. “It is not left out in the marketplace. The Bulls are more than prepared to work out a sign-and-trade pact to get him the years and money he desires, but with the new salary limit regulations, this is much more difficult for clubs to accomplish.
I believe in DeMar DeRrozan’s case, while it may not be as tempting to him, it may appear to be a one-year contract somewhere. Allow the market to reset next year, because a sign-and-trade requires at least three years. And now you’re trapped into a three-year contract at a price you may not like.”
DeRozan, 34, was the Bulls’ best scorer last season, averaging 24.0 points, 5.3 assists, and 4.3 rebounds across 79 games. He came up second to Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry in the Clutch Player of the Year contest. However, if DeRozan joins a contender, he will have to accept a smaller position and a lower salary.
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