Hold-Up on DeMar DeRozan's Free Agency Decision Revealed
DeMar DeRozan’s landing spot comes down to whether or not he would be willing to take a minimum contract. So far we've heard that, from the teams that are interested in him, he wants either part or all of their mid-level exception.
Teams with interest that would have to pony up the cash include the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers and Minnesota Timberwolves, among others.
The Heat, per Siegel, have about $8 to $10 million left in their mid-level exception. The Cavs have "part" of their mid-level exception, while the T'Wolves "could go after DeRozan," and have the room-level exception, which is around $6 million, and Siegel says they could also free up some cap room.
Another team that seems to have entered the fray is the Denver Nuggets.
REPORT: The Nuggets have interest in signing DeMar DeRozan to a minimum contract, per @BrettSiegelNBA. pic.twitter.com/8BRtjx4sHM
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) August 7, 2026
They, too, have offered the minimum to DeRozan, but Siegel says, "Personally, I don't see him taking a minimum contract, but if he views the Denver Nuggets as the best chance to win a championship, and they give him a starting role—I don't know how they could, maybe he starts at the two for them or maybe the three..."
The biggest thing that this could hinge on is if the Nuggets fail to re-sign key RFA Peyton Watson and are forced to sign-and-trade him away. If that's the case, there's a huge role for DeRozan. He doesn't provide the defense that Watson does (not even close), but DD's scoring, of course, is at another level than Watson's still-developing offensive game.
So lots of ifs, ands or buts, for DeRozan, but it's all up to him on how much he needs on his next deal.
