DeMar DeRozan could be on the move again, and this time the New York Knicks may finally have a path to him. Sacramento is leaning toward waiving the 36-year-old, which would open the door for him to hit free agency and make himself available on a veteran minimum contract.
That matters now because the Knicks have spent the early part of the offseason trying to keep their books tight while still adding depth. They already brought back Mohamed Diawara, Landry Shamet and Jose Alvarado on new deals, and James Dolan said before free agency that the team would not go into the second apron. Mitchell Robinson was lost because of that mandate, and the Knicks now have room for only two veteran minimum players under their current cap setup.
Steven Simineri of Sports Illustrated suggested DeRozan could fit the Knicks' second unit if Sacramento stretches and waives his contract. He argued the Knicks do not need much, but they could use another ball handler and more creation off the bench. In his view, DeRozan would be an upgrade if he is willing to sign for the minimum, especially because one of New York’s remaining spots appears reserved for another big and another for a possible reunion with Jordan Clarkson.
The math is why this path exists at all. DeRozan is owed $25 million for the upcoming season, but only $10 million is guaranteed. The Knicks cannot fit that full salary on their books in a trade, which means the only realistic route is for him to become a free agent first. If Sacramento does waive and stretch him, a veteran minimum deal would suddenly make a Knicks pairing possible.
Kelly Iko reported that Sacramento is leaning toward waiving DeRozan and letting him test free agency, with the expectation that he would be waived and stretched. That lines up with the market reality around a 37-year-old six-time All-Star: if he wants the shortest path to a contender, his next contract may have to be small. For the Knicks, the question is no longer whether they would like the fit. It is whether Sacramento actually hands them the opening.
