As Miami Heat fans continue to take a wait-and-see approach when it comes to the rest of the supporting cast around Giannis Antetokounmpo, it appears the next big piece might be about to hit the open market.
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, DeMar DeRozan and the Sacramento Kings are expected to come to a buyout agreement in the coming days. That should open the door to DeRozan hitting the free-agent market. If he's willing to sign on the cheap, his options could be vast.
Realistically, DeRozan should emerge as a prime target for Miami.
The Heat will start to fill out this roster after July 6
Once the new league year begins, July 6, the overwhelming expectation is that the Heat will truly begin to build out this roster around Giannis. Depending on how much financial flexibility they'll be able to get (or create), cheap veteran options, potentially like DeRozan, should be near the top of the Heat's wishlist.
Even though the fit isn't as "clean" as perhaps some Heat fans are hoping it could be, DeRozan is a name that does make a ton of sense for Miami.
Over the years, he's been a name that has been connected to the Heat time and time again. However, for one reason or another, their two paths just haven't been able to cross.
But this offseason, there's reason to believe that could be different.
As the Heat looks to quickly revamp the roster around Giannis, DeRozan could make sense on multiple fronts. While inserting DeRozan into the starting two-guard wouldn't be ideal because of spacing reasons, if the Heat sold the veteran forward on a sixth-man role, they could be cooking with something.
DeMar DeRozan could thrive as a sixth man for Miami
DeRozan in the role that Jaime Jaquez Jr. operated in last season could be an absolute game-changer for this supporting cast.
And if they were to get DeRozan to play for the veteran's minimum, that'd be a huge signing for a Heat team that hasn't made many moves (thus far) to upgrade their roster (aside from Giannis).
Despite the concerns that would revolve around adding DeRozan, how could the fans be against bringing in the veteran forward on the cheap? Overall, if this is a path the Heat want to go down, there just isn't a big downside.
If the fit is too wonky for Erik Spoelstra to make it work, they could simply waive him and move on. If this is a move the Heat have been waiting for, it appears they're finally going to get their chance to bring in DeRozan. In the next few days, we should find out the answer to that question.
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