Warriors, Knicks, Heat named top landing spots for $73 million ex-Spurs All-NBA star forward

Warriors, Knicks, Heat named top landing spots for $73 million ex-Spurs All-NBA star forward originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

>July 6 was undoubtedly a busy day in the NBA.

>Given that all transactions became official, it wasn’t surprising to see franchises complete deals agreed to days earlier.

>Additionally, former San Antonio Spurs All-Rookie forward DeMar DeRozan was waived by the Sacramento Kings, allowing him to become a highly sought-after free agent at the start of the new month.

>According to CBS Sports’ Sam Quinn, the Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, and Miami Heat are among the organizations that should consider pursuing DeRozan this summer.

>“The Warriors will have plenty of financial flexibility while they await Jimmy Butler's return from a torn ACL, so they could potentially pay DeRozan more than the minimum (that is, unless they dip into that flexibility to retain Quentin Post on the three-year, $30 million offer sheet that the Memphis Grizzlies gave him),” Quinn wrote.

>“DeRozan is represented by CAA, which means the Knicks know him well. He also played briefly for Mike Brown in Sacramento, so the Knicks have all of the information they'll need here. If they think he'd fit into a smaller role, it's not a crazy talent play. Clarkson wasn't a staple in the playoff rotation, but he did his job when the Knicks needed him to. If a 37-year-old DeRozan is willing to do the same, maybe this could work.”

>“The Miami Heat have been linked to DeRozan through several transaction cycles, and they badly need another creator with so much of their offense currently hinging on Giannis Antetokounmpo.”

>Derozan’s fit with the Warriors would certainly be the most head-scratching of the bunch, as his heavy reliance on his mid-range jump shot and inability to develop into a respectable perimeter shooter would make him stick out like a sore thumb in Steve Kerr’s three-point-centric offense.

>Derozan, a 17-year veteran, is shooting 30.2% from beyond the arc for his career. That said, as Quinn noted, Curry needs a reliable Robin entering the 2026-27 campaign, and if Butler’s recovery doesn’t go as planned/LeBron James doesn’t join the fold, signing DeRozan would make some sense.

>The USC product is a well-known dynamic scorer who averaged 20+ points per game for 12 consecutive seasons, making him an experienced bucket-getter who would help keep the Dubs competitive at the very least.

>Only time will tell if Golden State agrees with that sentiment.

>More NBA news:

Warriors now know asking price for Bronny James-Lakers trade

• >Spurs predicted to outbid Warriors for $101 million Lakers star, four-time NBA champion

• >Luka Doncic sends clear message to Lakers on roster they can't afford to ignore