Many of the big dominoes of the NBA’s free agency period have fallen, but there are still a handful of impact players available on the market.
Perhaps the biggest remaining prize is receiving plenty of interest from the Miami Heat, who could stand to benefit from adding a star after an uneventful season culminated with a first-round exit at the hands of the Boston Celtics.
Miami Herald veteran Barry Jackson reported that Miami is showing interest in Chicago Bulls star DeMar DeRozan and that the interest is mutual, adding “The Heat has expressed interest in Bulls free agent guard DeMar DeRozan, and DeRozan also has interest in Miami, according to two sources with knowledge of the situation. The Heat is among several teams in play for the six-time All-Star.”
The Miami Heat are showing interest in DeMar DeRozan, per @flasportsbuzz
DeRozan has interest in joining Miami
“The Heat has expressed interest in Bulls free agent guard DeMar DeRozan, and DeRozan also has interest in Miami, according to two sources with knowledge of the… pic.twitter.com/NPPngAFsdv
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) July 2, 2024
DeRozan continues to age incredibly well and would be a strong fit on paper for a Heat team that could use some offensive firepower, as the 34-year-old led the league at 37.8 minutes per game this past season while playing in 79 games.
DeRozan averaged 24 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game for the Bulls last season and seems like a safe bet to be headed elsewhere in free agency as Chicago leans toward a rebuild.
His fit with Jimmy Butler on offense would be questionable, but both have developed as strong facilitators later in their careers and should be able to find common ground.
Culturally, the fit couldn’t be better, as DeRozan is one of the most consistent and stable players of his generation.
There aren’t many teams with a lot of cap space left, so it’ll be interesting to see who else is in the mix for DeRozan’s services.
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Miami Heat Reportedly Have A Strong Belief About Their Roster