This year’s offseason has seen some drastic moves across the NBA. Trades have certainly drawn the most attention, but some shifts in the free agency market have been worth noting, too. After the Sacramento Kings waived veteran forward DeMar DeRozan, another solid asset has come into play.
Although a few teams have emerged as landing spots, a familiar name could be in pursuit of the 36-year-old. According to ESPN’s Anthony Slater, the Golden State Warriors could be interested in signing DeMar DeRozan out of free agency on one condition. Slater reported:
“The Warriors, I’ve already been told, he’s [DeRozan] a guy they will look into at some point in the coming days, especially if they do not get LeBron James.”
The Golden State Warriors were expected to be one of the more active teams in the free agency market this offseason. Given the need for roster upgrades, the Dubs were poised to make some key additions. Unfortunately, given their recent activity, it is safe to say that Golden State has fallen short.
Barring some re-signings, the Warriors haven’t made any noteworthy additions to their team. Now, the Dubs find themselves on the verge of missing out on LeBron James, as other teams emerge as more promising destinations.
While losing out on James could be detrimental, having a contingency plan to sign DeMar DeRozan could be useful. DeRozan averaged 18.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game last season. Although his impact on winning may not be significant, he could be a solid scoring addition, especially in Jimmy Butler‘s extended absence.
What Are The Warriors’ Chances Of Signing DeMar DeRozan?
Signing LeBron James may be a priority for the Warriors this offseason, but given how their roster construction is going, it is more likely for them to miss out on the 41-year-old superstar. Hence, diverting their attention to signing a player like DeMar DeRozan may not be out of the question.
Realistically, the Warriors should not face too many issues with signing DeRozan.
Although the veteran is likely to garner some interest in the market, with teams like the Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Heat being mentioned as suitors, recent updates have negated L.A.’s interest in signing him. This could open some avenues for the Dubs to approach the six-time All-Star.
Currently, the Warriors have a total payroll of $184.3 million, courtesy of Draymond Green declining his $27.7 million player option. While a portion of this would be utilized to re-sign Green, there is some speculation that Green could also be on the way out.
This would be unfortunate, but it would certainly give Golden State more flexibility to give DeMar DeRozan a more lucrative offer.
With roughly $16.7 million at their disposal before going over the tax, the Warriors could offer DeRozan a new contract worth roughly $10 million annually. This would give them some space to sign a few more players on minimum deals to fill out the roster.
Alternatively, Golden State could also acquire DeRozan at a lower cost. When noting that he has a $10 million partial guarantee, the forward may be willing to take a lower salary to give the team added flexibility to make roster moves.
At $5-$6 million, signing DeRozan doesn’t have a massive impact on the Warriors’ salary cap. Additionally, with another capable player on the roster, the Warriors may also strengthen their case to land LeBron James this summer.
There are undoubtedly several risks involved with signing DeMar DeRozan, with the primary one being a fit issue. However, with the need for offensive production from players other than Stephen Curry, the Warriors may see some merit in this move.
