3 Teams (and 1 Stunning Option) Potential Destinations for DeMar DeRozan

As the Sacramento Kings continue to try to tear apart their overpriced and underperforming roster, there are three teams posed as landing spots for DeMar DeRozan, plus one stunning other potential outcome:

There’s a strong possibility the Kings will buy out DeMar DeRozan if they’re unable to find a trade for him, per @SIChrisMannix

“Keon Ellis may not be the only Kings player on the move. Sacramento has not had much success generating interest in veteran wings Zach LaVine and… pic.twitter.com/zt4ZhmzmnV
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) February 4, 2026

According to Chris Mannix in Sports Illustrated, there's a "strong" possibility that the Kings will buy out the six-time All-Star if they can't find him a new team.

“Keon Ellis may not be the only Kings player on the move. Sacramento has not had much success generating interest in veteran wings Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan. DeRozan is a strong candidate to be bought out after the deadline, while the Kings will likely try again to move LaVine in the offseason.”

DeRozan is owed $25.7M next season in the final year of his deal.

In the meantime, the Kings have another 24 hours to try to work out a deal to send DeRozan to a greener pasture. These three teams have been posited as landing spots:

Golden State Warriors
LA Clippers
Miami Heat

The Warriors and Heat, of course, are laser-focused right now on trying to land the biggest fish in the trade deadline pool, Giannis Antetokounmpo. But failing that, DeRozan would offer each of those teams a veteran scoring presence that they could certainly use. He could be a fallback option for those teams to get something done at the deadline, failing a Giannis move.

In addition, if the Bucks hold off on trading the Greek Freak until the summer, having DeRozan's $25M contract on the books could help in the efforts to land Giannis in an offseason deal.

As for the Clippers, that would be a homecoming for DeRozan, a Compton kid. The Clips have already pulled off a huge move at this deadline, sending James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Adding DeRozan would replace some of that veteran scoring.

And imagine seeing DeRozan trying to chase a ring teammed up with Kawhi Leonard—the man he was famously traded for in that ground-shaking trade before the 2018-19 season that led to a Raptors championship.