DeMar DeRozan Shocks NBA: Fresh Trade Rumors, Likely Destinations & What It Means for Your Team

All-Star swingman DeMar DeRozan may be the next marquee name to shake up the 2026 NBA offseason. Multiple reports indicate the 36-year-old is actively trying to accelerate his departure from the Sacramento Kings after just one season in California’s capital. DeRozan is owed $25 million for 2026-27, but only $10 million of that salary is guaranteed—an unusual contract structure that gives Sacramento flexibility and gives rival front offices hope they can pry him loose on a team-friendly number. According to league insiders cited by Bleacher Report, DeRozan has already informed the Kings he prefers a fresh start, ideally with a playoff contender poised to make a title push. Toronto has quickly emerged as the sentimental—and increasingly realistic—front-runner. The Raptors have cap space after declining two team options, and president Masai Ujiri has publicly left the door open for “a reunion with our greatest franchise scorers,” a clear nod to the four-time Raptor All-Star. Toronto isn’t alone. League executives say the Miami Heat, Los Angeles Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers have all placed exploratory calls. Each club can offer immediate playoff relevance, and with DeRozan still averaging 21.4 points and 5.8 assists last year, he represents a cost-controlled scoring punch on the wing. His preference, sources say, is a destination that will keep him in prime-time TV windows and extend his championship window as he enters his late-thirties prime. From Sacramento’s perspective, general manager Monte McNair is signaling a willingness to accommodate the request—provided the return includes a first-round pick or a young rotation-ready guard. The Kings are already $12 million under the luxury-tax line and would like to redirect DeRozan’s touches toward rising star Keon Ellis, who flourished in spot starts last season. Trade machinations aside, DeRozan holds substantial leverage. If no deal materializes by the August 1 partial-guarantee deadline, he can threaten to exercise his early termination option in 2027, effectively walking for nothing. That ticking clock is expected to keep the rumor mill spinning hard over the next few weeks. Key dates to watch: • July 17: Summer-league finale—many executives gather in Las Vegas, a hotbed for preliminary trade talks. • August 1: DeRozan’s $10 million guarantee triggers; Kings must decide whether to pick up or shop the contract. • Mid-September: Training camp invitations go out; Sacramento will want roster clarity before then. For DeRozan, the outcome could define his legacy. A return to Toronto would cement him as one of the rare stars to complete a full-circle comeback. A move to Miami or Los Angeles would keep him in the championship conversation. Either way, the six-time All-Star has ensured that “DeMar DeRozan trade rumors” will dominate NBA headlines—and search traffic—until a resolution arrives.