Celtics predicted to sign $305M Future Hall of Famer, 6-time All-Star to pair with Jayson Tatum image
DeMar DeRozan is a 17-year NBA veteran searching for a new team that can give him a legitimate opportunity to compete for a championship. He has put together a Hall of Fame-caliber career, highlighted by his standout years with the Toronto Raptors.
This summer, DeRozan entered free agency after being released by the Sacramento Kings.
“The Sacramento Kings have waived DeMar DeRozan, the team announced Monday, making the six-time All-Star one of the top free agents on the market. DeRozan had a partial guarantee on his contract for next season, but he and Sacramento worked on his release to allow him to find a new home. Multiple contenders are expected to have interest in the veteran guard,” ESPN wrote.
Several contenders are interested in adding DeRozan on a team-friendly deal. The six-time All-Star remains one of the league's most accomplished scorers and still has plenty to offer on the offensive end. At the moment, three teams have reportedly emerged as serious suitors.
“I'm told Miami, Denver, and Cleveland are among the teams interested in DeMar DeRozan… There is a player out west that is overlapping with DeRozan as far as interest from teams," ESPN's Shams Charania said.
While those teams remain in the mix, Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale believes the Boston Celtics could also emerge as a landing spot.
“The Celtics have the spacing to cover up for DeRozan's finite range and could use another secondary table-setter other than Jayson Tatum, Payton Pritchard and Derrick White. Something has gone wrong if Mike Conley is a factor, and Boston can't count on Paul George to play in every game,” Favale wrote.
If Paul George is healthy, DeRozan would likely come off the bench. However, George has dealt with injuries throughout his career, meaning Boston could benefit from adding another proven scorer and playmaker. The Celtics are expected to be among the top contenders in the Eastern Conference, making them an appealing destination for the veteran forward.
DeRozan has earned $305 million in NBA contracts throughout his career. Adding a future Hall of Famer with his scoring ability would give Boston another offensive weapon as it continues its pursuit of another championship.
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