Are Washington Wizards A Sensible Fit for DeMar DeRozan?

The pool of available players for teams to turn to in free agency is pretty limited at this stage of the offseason, but the Washington Wizards have been linked to a pair of notable veterans over the last six weeks.

The first was Russell Westbrook, though that ship has officially sailed after he announced his retirement after nearly two decades in the NBA despite holding a two year offer from the Wizards. The other has been DeMar DeRozan, who has watched a nearly consistent market materialize with the Wizards included.

For a team that featured the second-youngest roster ahead of the 2025-26 season, including setting the NBA record for the youngest starting lineup in a January loss to Charlotte, the sensible reasoning for acquiring DeRozan is adding additional veteran experience to the roster. Yet that is also already present on a roster that has Trae Young and Anthony Davis in the expected starting lineup, while the sign-and-trade for Khris Middleton at D'Angelo Russell's expense can add exactly that to the bench in a potentially limited role.

On the floor, DeRozan's fit makes even less sense.

On one hand, DeRozan has played in at least 70 games in each of his last five seasons, including two All Star selections, while doing so as an efficient scorer with last season marking the first time since 2012-13 that he didn't average at least 20 points, yet still just shy of 50% shooting from the field.

On the other, the veteran has done so as a ball dominant wing whose production is dependent on scoring. DeRozan has also commanded a significant role throughout his career, including a career-high 37.8 minutes during his third and final season with the Chicago Bulls at 34 years old in 2023-24. He's coming off a season in Sacramento where he averaged 31.2 minutes per game, his fewest since he averaged 21.6 minutes as a rookie, in a role that the Wizards can't come close to offering given the current roster.

Speaking of the current roster, how does DeRozan fit with the rest of the current roster? Kyshawn George, Will Riley, Tre Johnson and Bilal Coulibaly can all fill similar minutes with all eyes on what another offseason of development materializes into in 2026-27.

Financially, there isn't any limitation.

Washington still has the full mid-level exception available to use with recent reports that DeRozan is eyeing more than the veteran minimum from teams, which could favor the Wizards in DeRozan's eyes with the team still far from entering the second apron.

It's why despite the continued belief that DeRozan ultimately lands with the Miami Heat, that the Wizards were tabbed as the team to "not count out," according to Brett Siegel of Clutch Points. In addition to Miami and Washington, the Denver Nuggets, Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors have been reportedly in the mix for the 17 year NBA vet.

Still, with a limited pool and a clear emphasis on adding experience given who the front office has been linked to, DeRozan's decision could be the next 'big' domino to materialize ahead of the 2026-27 regular season.