The Cleveland Cavaliers are weighing a run at DeMar DeRozan, and the appeal is easy to see. He’s a proven scorer, a six-time All-Star, and a veteran who could step into the mix before training camp and immediately give Cleveland another established option on the wing.
That kind of stability matters for a team still searching for the right pieces. The Cavs already brought in Mario Hezonja and may have found something intriguing in rookie Meleek Thomas, but they’re still looking for a player with a real track record.
DeRozan checks that box, and if Cleveland were to land him, he would likely slot ahead of Hezonja as the starting small forward. Even then, Hezonja would still have an important role as he makes his NBA return.
The selling point with DeRozan starts with the scoring. At 37, he can still put points on the board, and that should matter for Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland’s lead offensive threat.
Last season with the Sacramento Kings, DeRozan averaged 18.4 points per game and shot just under 50% from the field. His game still revolves around the mid-range, and that remains a real weapon when the offense needs someone to steady things.
He also brings something Cleveland can use when possessions get messy: isolation scoring and mid-range shot creation. In crunch time, that kind of player gives an offense a fallback plan. There’s also a developmental angle here, since DeRozan could serve as a mentor for Thomas as the rookie begins his NBA journey after standing out in Summer League.
Money, though, is where the conversation gets complicated. Cleveland is already dealing with an expensive roster and salary pressure, so DeRozan’s availability after being waived by the Kings makes him an intriguing possibility. The source of the appeal is clear: he may be the best free agent still on the market, and after 17 NBA seasons, he still appears to have something left to give without costing the kind of money a bigger-name target would command.
But the downside is just as obvious. DeRozan is reportedly seeking a multi-million dollar salary, not a veteran minimum deal, which makes him more of a short-term answer than a long-term piece. His athletic upside is fading, and that creates a real limit on what Cleveland can expect.
There are also basketball fit concerns. DeRozan does not address the Cavs’ issues with size, length or wing defense, the latter of which Dean Wade provided last season before his move to the Philadelphia 76ers.
His spacing is another question. Last season, he shot 32% from three-point range, and because he does most of his damage inside the arc, Cleveland could be left without enough perimeter threat, especially if Max Strus leaves in a sign-and-trade deal.
Then there’s the matter of fit with the ball in his hands. DeRozan’s style is heavily usage-based, and that raises questions about how smoothly he would fit with Cleveland’s second unit.
Thomas is coming off a Summer League run where he looked like a scoring phenom, and he’ll want touches too. DeRozan would certainly be another option for Mitchell and a veteran presence for the rookie, but even with those positives, the question remains whether he would truly gel with the group.
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Cavaliers Are Opening The Door To A New Game Night Role
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Each group comes with its own audition date, age requirement and commitment level, with opportunities tied not only to Cavaliers home games but also to community events around the team. Candidates who want more details and a shot at a role can register through the Cavaliers official website, where the team has laid out the basics for anyone interested in joining the show. [Read more 🡒]