The Miami Heat boast two major advantages in attracting top players: their renowned culture and their prime location, rivaled only by Los Angeles in the NBA. These factors played a crucial role once again on Wednesday, July 3, as Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reported that DeMar DeRozan, formerly of the Chicago Bulls, has the Heat high on his list of preferred destinations.
“Kings have talked to Bulls about DeRozan sign and trade, per source. Spurs now another possibility. Despite DeRozan’s interest in Miami, the Heat are not in a position to give him what he’s seeking at this time,” Jackson posted on his X account. “Heat will hope an opportunity for a player they want arises this summer.”
Complications in Acquiring DeRozan Due to Free Agency
Jackson’s report coincided with another from Jovan Buha of The Athletic, who noted that both the Los Angeles Lakers are interested in DeRozan and that sources believe the Heat are leading the race to sign the six-time All-Star in the near future.
DeRozan’s free agency status complicates the Heat’s efforts, as the team cannot trade existing salaries to acquire him. Miami is deep into the luxury tax with its current roster and has exceeded the first apron under the NBA’s new collective bargaining agreement.
Buha did not detail how the Heat might clear enough space to offer DeRozan a satisfactory deal after he earned nearly $82 million with the Bulls over the last three years and $257.6 million over his 15-year career.
Jackson further reported that instead of pursuing DeRozan directly in free agency, Miami might be looking to make a trade down the line.
“Heat is trying to do something in trade market, I’ve been assured. (DeRozan seems too difficult at the moment; other options less clear),” Jackson wrote on X. “That’s why they have left themselves $7 million under the second apron for now. So it’s not like they’re sitting around playing Scrabble.”
Caleb Martin as a Potential Solution
Miami cannot use the full mid-level exception (roughly $13 million) to sign DeRozan without counting it against the cap due to their luxury tax status. Even if they could, DeRozan, who is soon to be 35, is unlikely to accept a one-year contract for less than half of his last season’s earnings with Chicago. This leaves a sign-and-trade deal as the only viable option, though it could be complex to execute.
Perhaps Miami’s best option to improve their roster this summer is a sign-and-trade centered around Caleb Martin, who opted out of his contract with the Heat to test free agency. Martin, a proven two-way wing, has spent the last three years in Miami and could be a key piece in a trade.
There is also the possibility that Martin may not find the deal he seeks in free agency and might return to the Heat for a fourth season and beyond.
Leave a Reply