After a dull and disappointing start to NBA free agency, the Miami Heat have finally struck a big headline. As reported by South Florida insider Barry Jackson, there is mutual interest between the Heat and Chicago Bulls star DeMar DeRozan.
NEW: Heat calls on DeMar DeRozan, and DeRozan also has interest in Miami, per multiple sources. But Lakers, others also reportedly involvedhttps://t.co/dHZiMO9HSo
Here are the precise rules complications with Miami acquiring DeRozan.. World got confirmation today that Mitchell…— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) July 2, 2024
DeRozan is a six-time NBA All-Star and three-time All-NBA talent. Although he will be entering his age 35 season, he is coming off season averages of 24.0 points, 5.3 assists and 4.3 rebounds to go along with 1.1 steals on 48.0% shooting. He also shot 33.3% on 3-point attempts.
Similar to Jimmy Butler, DeRozan is in that same age and title contending window. Also similarly, he is another player with a high basketball IQ and crafty game, making him someone who can age nicely.
A DeRozan signing pairs Jimmy Butler with a close friend and co-star to finish off this 2-3 year window…
That midrange duo would instantly become LETHAL against opposing teams
& with the proper shooters around them (Jimmy 41% 3P), this has *potential* to be a needle mover pic.twitter.com/F29UwOslZb
— Hot Hot Hoops (@hothothoops) July 2, 2024
Such a potential signing would immediately put Miami back in the conversation with the best of the Eastern Conference. This is a roster that is in desperate need for change and a lineup spark. Bringing a household veteran name filled with playoff experience and a strong offensive skillset would do exactly that.
The Heat ranked in the top 10 for defensive efficiency this past season, but ranked around the top 20 for offensive efficiency. Getting a bonafide scorer would help solve that discrepancy and add more balance to coach Erik Spoelstra’s lineups.
Keep in mind that to get a DeRozan deal done, the Heat will need to get creative. He is an unrestricted free agent, but Miami currently has nothing to offer outside of the $5 million-plus taxpayer mid level exception. During DeRozan’s three-year contract with Chicago, he earned an average annual salary of $27.3 million.
Something that Jackson noted in his initial DeRozan/Miami reports, is the possibility of making a trade to shed salary prior to bringing him aboard. The three main potential Heat players in doing so could be offloading one of the contracts of Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson or Terry Rozier, respectively. Miami would look into not just a salary dump in any trade involving one of three, but also receive back a much cheaper role player and a draft pick or two.
The only other possible way in getting DeRozan to South Beach would be if he is willing to take a major pay-cut. As a guy with two-way capabilities like him, along with fielding interest from other teams in the market, that route seems unlikely.
***
This is a developing news story. Stay tuned for updates.
To check out our other content, click here.
Follow Hot Hot Hoops on Twitter/X here!
Follow Hot Hot Hoops on Instagram here!
Subscribe to our YouTube channel here!
We love signing old stars. This team isn’t serious about competing.
Meanwhile, Heat re-sign Thomas Bryant? What The Flying F@#%! I guess Orlando is gone.
I am flabbergasted! Rarely play the guy, resign him?
DeRozan is now a Mav.
One of those perennial teaser titles ” Mr so and so and Heat have mutual interest”.
And now we’re back to being the favorites to land DeRozan. If something happens it’s feeling like the next 24 hours
Lebron signs 2 years 104mil.
And Bronny for 4 years. Lol that is ridiculous
DeRozan is saying he won’t even take the mid-level $13 right now. He would have to be on skid row to accept $5.2. Looking like Kings are getting interested in him. Ask about Vuce and then move on.
vucevic great option.his offense and bams d.like it.demar going to la.lebron will make it happen he needs help.
This would be a terrible decision. We never learn to stop chasing old stars. DeMar isn’t even a good fit based on his style of play.
Probably not what we need, especially not as a starting shooting guard. But he could be great as a backup and a closer in champion level team.
Ok so just run it back.Who else out there .We have no assets no $$$.Nobody wants a herro or a dunc.If they did theyd be syanara by now.Gotta play d in this league.
We have no assets? You are delirious. We have assets like JJJ and Jovic that we don’t want to trade and I agree, especially for an old ass player. The Herro contract is definitely the toughest but Duncan is basically on an expiring deal. There is no point in trading young ascending players for one to two years of an old dude.
That is what seems to be happening. Been thru this a few time before now. People are interested in coming but when they see what we have to trade, they look elsewhere. Every time you pay a player, you have to consider the other end of the transaction, the exit strategy. This is why I have been so audacious as to criticize Pat the last two years. And now you see how it hurts us. Running it back will see us in the lottery. As they said of the Titanic, “This ship will founder, it’s a mathematical certainty.”
So after a quiet draft and quiet start to free agency, this is the first hint we get at the Heat’s plans for the offseason.
The things I think are really interesting is that a trade for Derozen would (a) include the Heat shedding salary, probably by getting rid of Herro and (b) probably be a short term deal, let’s say two years with a team option for the 3rd, which could theoretically make him an expiring contract by his second season.
My theory for what the Heat are up to:
They’re watching all these teams go into the second and Apron, and even crappy teams going over the salary cap, and expect that cap space is going to become more valuable under the new CBA.
If Jimmy Butler wants to opt-out next season, the Heat will have fifty million dollars in cap space. Even if there are no free agents, I bet a lot of those teams hovering around the second apron will be giving players away.
Until then, it might be one last run with Jimmy. If they’re good, it’s fun. If they’re a play-in team, maybe they trade Jimmy at the deadline. Either way, I think the Heat are starting to pivot their offseason strategy to adapt to the new CBA.
Don’t ask me to explain this wacky system, but according to various Heat writers , bloggers, and vloggers, if Butler opts out, we would have $30 million available and not the full value of his contract. As the old saying goes – it’s complicated. 😐 Still, that would free up a significant amount of money and they could make more moves to free up more.
yes, but that $30 million in cap space comes with an extra $50+ million in expiring contracts. The only players under contract for ’26 are Bam, Herro, Jovic, Jamie, and Ware. Not a terrible 5-man unit to go with $100 million in cap space.
That’s the good news.
The bad news is that the easiest way to get there is to make no moves this offseason.
Speaking of wacky systems how bout Boston. Mfers are past a 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th & 10th apron. basically signed their whole team back this year while giving 2 supermax contracts. Just saw they signed Xavier Tillman back like seriously thought that’s what the aprons were put in for? Whilst also being for sale………….oh that’s right as long as Mia isn’t doing it the league and its pundits are ok with it
Ikr that’s so crazy smh, but they have that team for one more season before they break can break it up hopefully. If not then, nba cba is worth a pile of crap.
Been saying the silent tank is on. See if the same team can climb the rankings if healthy. If not, made deadline decisions, recoup the 2025 pick and go in to next season with a youth movement, your pick, and some extra coin. I’m ok with a gap year if that’s the eventual plan. For now, see if market disintegrates for DeMar and he’s willing to take a one year $5.2, which I doubt. No harm no foul
So they’re tanking without broadcasting it. sad
So Derozan.
I would prefer a younger player, a better defender and a better shooter from distance in the place of Herro.
Yes, sir. As of right now DeMar is still demanding he be paid like a superstar. If that’s the case then the Heat are out. Let some other team swoop in because I would not add years past Jimmy’s contract unless it’s a younger player like a Cam Johnson
I believe we need a scoring forward like Harris much more than another guard.
Which is why I mentioned Cam Johnson since Harris signed with Detroit. A shooting PF is what I think the team needs. I only want DeMar on a one year $5.2 deal,which he won’t do.
Damn, I missed that.
Yes, Cam Johnson would be great, but he is a little expensive.
I don’t mind getting cam Johnson, but he isn’t a pf, he’s too soft, and doesn’t rebound well enough. He’s a 2 in a 4 body.
He signed with pistons.
From AUCH:
”The other option is acquiring DeRozan via sign-and-trade, but doing that would hard cap the Heat at the first apron, which stands at $178.1 million. The Heat are currently above the first apron, with an active payroll above $180 million, making the sign-and-trade route impossible with the current roster.
But what if the Heat trim payroll in order to unlock the sing-and-trade possibility? Doing so would require trading one of Miami’s larger salaries – Tyler Herro ($29 million), Terry Rozier ($24.9 million) or Duncan Robinson ($19.4 million) – into another team’s cap space while taking little-to-know salary back.”
Okay, for me, this is the moment management and ownership need to say ‘damn the torpedoes’ and totally go for it. With that lineup of Bam, Jovic, Butler, DeRozan, and Rozier that will eventually transition to Ware, Bam, Butler (depending on future negotiations), DeRozan, and Rozier, they’d have the potential to beat anyone. Bench of Jaquez, J Rich, Love, Duncan (or Herro), Highsmith (?), Larrson, leaves about 3 open spots.
That team is going to want picks. That is usually the trade off. Which picks can we offer, 2037? 😛
Unlock the 2025 pick to give the third team the 2027 pick, and throw in the 2026 second if needed.
What do we do to unlock it? I thought OKC owned it if we don’t make the playoffs, and we get DeRozan, we’re making the playoffs.
As far as I know, if OKC accepts, we remove the 1-14 protection, meaning they definitely get and use that pick. Of course, I don’t see it as a risk because especially with DeRozan, no way will we be in the lottery.
If we do a 3 team trade, then maybe nets could be that 3rd team. They get herro, we get demar, and bulls get 3 2nd round picks( one from us and 2 from the nets). Nets are one of the few teams that like herro too.
Yes, I suggested that earlier. I think that is one possibility.
There are teams e.g., OKC, Utah, Detroit, Orlando and San Antonio with cap space and picks that may be willing to take a player (Herro, Robinson, Rozier?) for picks and cash.
I’d really like to see this happen. Speculation is we may know in next 24 hours or so.
If Kyle Anderson gets 3 years and $27 what can Caleb get?
Could it actually happen? Could mutual interest turn into reality? I hope so. Problem is, other teams don’t want our assets. That has hampered us so often over the last few years. And if we have to trade Terry, not sure you even do it as, yes Demar is better, but not enough of an upgrade without retaining Terry to make it worth it. Not to me anyway.
Bulls would want our assets, I just went to there blog, and they’re perfectly fine with Duncan and 2nd round pick.
But wait! lol
DeRozan is saying he’s definitely not going back to the Bulls. If that’s the case, and a sign and trade won’t net him what he is looking for $, then it’s a straight up battle between Lakers and Heat. I think Lakers have a little more money (I have to check) and he’s from L.A. But he is friends with Jimmy and has spent his time in the Eastern Conference.
If the Heat land him without trading, get the rocket fuel ready. We’re off to the moon.
I wish we could get him without trading, but that would be harder, since we can only offer him 5 mill. If wants more money, we can do a sign and trade with herro instead, so he can get a lil more, plus no taxes, and can play with Jimmy in the weaker east like you said.
Much rather trade Herro than Duncan especially if the heat are adding another mid range player like demar imo
Agree and that is my concern. The league eats off 3’s. But Herro has too many years left if we are to believe the Bulls in they don’t want a contract like that in return. Unless they think he adds to a youth movement.
I prefer the same to trade herro as well because of that same reason you stated. Also keeping dunc would free up cap space, since he’s an expiring contract. But if they want dunc over herro, then I would still do it. Quick question would you rather trade away dunc and a pick or herro with 2 picks?
If it got that deal done? Either one. The team would be taking a great leap forward with that acquisition.
I feel you on that 💯
Bulls don’t want to take back money. That is what is being reported. So does that mean they want an expiring contract plus picks? As their board is suggesting, Duncan has one year left. I’m not crazy about removing a legit 3 point threat and adding another mid-range guy, but I’ll allow it. 😉
I get that they don’t want to take money back, but they would get a young ascending player back that fits coby and giddey’s timeline with a pick or two, so they can at least get something back for demar. Maybe it’ll help them to flip lavine quicker with added picks that we give them for demar. Either way I would do herro or Robinson sign and trade. Even though I prefer to trade herro.
I think a sign and trade is for 3 years with only the first year guaranteed. If correct, then that might make it tougher. But like you said, maybe they do like the Herro timeline. He is from close by Milwaukee, so midwest Tyler could be a thing again.
If they would be happy with that, what are we waiting for? That would be a fantastic deal for us.
If not demar ill take vucevic as the booby prize
Me too, but he seems to be a mush. Does he ever make the playoffs? lol That being said, I trust Spo & Co to bring out the best.
When he was with orlando thought he was a better player than bam
Offensively at that time when Bam was in his first three years, sure. But send Vuce on some of Bam’s defensive assignments and lets see how he does.
Make it work!
All the Heat stuff that has come out today after Mitchell signed says they were definitely waiting for him.
The Jazz said they would be interested in a Mikal-like package for Markkanen. Same is going for Kuzma. Damn Knicks and went and effed everything up. Just for that they deserve to watch the HEat sign Demar for $5 million. Make it so, NBA Gods.
demar and jimmy do have similar games so do jt jb.need an influx of talent last guy standing is demar.dont know how we get him unless he just wants to be here.
Yeah he would have to take $5.2 million and the rest of the league would say we’re up to some sh!t again. But if by miracle he accepted that offer that would open the door for several potential moves.
DeRozan seems like the quality of person who would enjoy a long post playing career in Miami as part of the Heat Family.
Of course the Bulls now interested in a sign and trade with the Lakers. I hope DeMar finds what he wants. If that is taking $5.2 million for one year with the Heat I won’t complain 😛
He’s not idiot so you can put that idea to rest. If anyone can find a creative way to lure him to Miami it’s Pat…especially if he gets to play alongside Bam and Butler. FYI, state income tax for millionaires in California is 13.3% and 0.00% in Florida. So there’s that to consider.
P.S. He could still own a coastal home here in Southern California to spend his offseason/summers. The weather is much more comfortable here than Florida this time of year. Jus sayin.
If the Lakers and Bulls figure a way to get him the 3 years he’s going there. Like you said, he’s not an idiot.
90% sure he goes to home town play with king and ad hope im wrong (wont be the first time)
Think positive and positive things happen. DeRozan is the difference maker Riley has been looking for!!! He has averaged 74.7 games per season and 25.5 points per game the past 3 years!!!
DeRozan would be a great fit with the Heat. He’s a hard worker with a great personality and a positive mental attitude. Despite his age (a month older than Jimmy) he is much more reliable. He’s very physically durable and doesn’t take random days off or have low effort lapses on the court. Like LeBron, he could probably play until he’s 40.
I would trade Herro to third team for assets and use them to bring in DeRozan. Worse case scenario, I would trade Jimmy and Herro and use the assets to bring in DeRozan and another quality two-way SG or SF.
Pull the trigger Pat. This is the break you’ve been looking for!!!
GO HEAT!!!
Brilliant minds think alike apparently.😆 We both suggested the same thing. I mentioned the Nets as the third team because they previously had interest in Herro.
DeRozan would be a strange fit. Miami’s two best players, are at their best operating in the paint and mid-range. Adding a third would seem to muddle the offense further. Can’t hate on adding talent, but will be a unique blend. I know Jimmy, Bam and DeMarr all increased their 3 point attempts last year, but I can see that grouping struggle in shared minutes.
Operating in the paint? Are you kidding me? Together with Bam and Ware, they would OWN THE PAINT!!!
Demar jim terry jjj bam toes are tingling
Don’t forget 6th man of the year off the bench and Duncan 😉
Agree, but this is an aquire talent move and the market is becoming bare. Figure it out later OR if Demar were to take $5.2 for one year then the Heat can still trade a player to better allocate resources for on-court fit.
please stop it