DeMar DeRozan has ended his free-agency search by agreeing to a two-year, $8.4 million contract with the Golden State Warriors, according to ESPN's Shams Charania, who reported the deal on August 13 and cited information from DeRozan's agent, Aaron Goodwin of Goodwin Sports. The move settles weeks of speculation that had linked the six-time All-Star to a handful of teams, including the Miami Heat, Denver Nuggets, Washington Wizards and Brooklyn Nets.
The 37-year-old swingman parted ways with the Sacramento Kings this offseason after appearing in 77 games last season, averaging 18.4 points and 4.1 assists per contest while shooting 49.7 percent from the field and 32 percent from three, according to Bleacher Report. Those numbers, while a step down from his peak production, underscore why multiple contenders and rebuilding teams alike showed interest in adding his scoring punch off the bench or as a stopgap starter.
Instead of returning to Toronto, where he remains the franchise's all-time leader in games played, minutes played and points scored, DeRozan will head to the team that beat the Raptors' opponents historically but, more notably, is the same Warriors franchise Toronto defeated in the 2019 NBA Finals, according to Yahoo Sports. The outlet noted the irony of DeRozan joining a former rival after speculation had repeatedly floated a sentimental return to the 6ix.
Financially, the deal represents a significant pay cut for DeRozan, who earned more than $24 million last season. The $8.4 million total over two years marks his lowest annual salary since the 2012-13 season, when he was still with the Raptors, Yahoo Sports reported. That drop reflects both his age and the market's view of his role going forward: no longer a primary offensive engine, but a proven bucket-getter capable of contributing in a reduced capacity.
A Crowded Market Before the Decision
In the days before the signing, DeRozan's free agency had generated a steady stream of speculation across the league. NBA insider Marc Stein reported that the Washington Wizards, after missing out on Russell Westbrook following his retirement, shifted their attention to DeRozan, pursuing him alongside Miami and Denver, according to Bleacher Report. The Wizards were seen as an imperfect fit, however, given the presence of Khris Middleton in a similar bench role and the team's need to develop younger players such as Bilal Coulibaly, Bub Carrington and Tre Johnson.
Miami was widely viewed as a more logical destination. The Heat's backcourt depth was considered thin, and the team lacked reinforcements behind Andrew Wiggins on the wing after acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo over the summer, according to Bleacher Report's analysis. Denver was also mentioned as a potential landing spot, though the Nuggets' offseason had been complicated by the restricted free agencies of Spencer Jones, who re-signed, and Peyton Watson, who had not signed at the time of the reporting.
Separately, the Toronto Star's Doug Smith, cited by Sports Illustrated, floated the Brooklyn Nets, Miami, Portland and Denver as the most sensible fits for DeRozan, while cautioning that there was no urgency on either side to complete a deal. Smith described the summer as "generally the slowest time of the year," with no pressure pushing DeRozan toward a quick decision. Sports Illustrated argued the Nets made particular sense given DeRozan's ability to break down defenses and create space for young players like Michael Porter Jr., Egor Dëmin and Mikel Brown Jr., and suggested a pairing with Julius Randle in pick-and-roll situations could have been productive. That outlet also noted DeRozan currently sits 16th on the NBA's all-time scoring list, meaning any additional playing time could help him climb further up that ranking.
None of those scenarios ultimately materialized. Golden State emerged as the winning bidder, a franchise that, according to Yahoo Sports, has been searching for exactly the kind of veteran stability and scoring depth DeRozan can provide. The Warriors struggled at times last season whenever Stephen Curry was sidelined, a vulnerability that has become more pressing with Jimmy Butler still recovering from a torn ACL. DeRozan's arrival gives Golden State a proven midrange scorer who can operate alongside Curry, pairing two players with strong individual scoring pedigrees even as DeRozan enters the twilight stage of his career.
While it remains unclear exactly what role DeRozan will occupy within the Warriors' rotation, Yahoo Sports suggested he could see extended run in a starting capacity, allowing him to play off Curry rather than serve as the primary shot creator he was during his years with the Raptors, San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls and Kings. DeRozan enters his 17th NBA season with this move, a career that began in Toronto and has since taken him through multiple stops across the league.
For DeRozan, the shift to Golden State also keeps him close to home. He is a Los Angeles native, and the Bay Area move keeps him in his home state of California even as he departs Sacramento. Whether he can approach the 20-points-per-game form he showed for much of his career remains to be seen, but the Warriors are betting that his combination of shot-making and experience can steady a roster still finding its footing without a full complement of healthy stars.
