DeMar DeRozan is seeking more than a veteran minimum contract as the Miami Heat consider their final roster spots, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Miami currently has 12 players on standard contracts, with the 13th spot potentially going to Klay Thompson if he is bought out by the Dallas Mavericks and agrees to join the Heat.
Jackson reported Wednesday that the 14th roster spot could be used on a center, while DeRozan and guard Gabe Vincent are among the other players Miami has considered. However, DeRozan wants exception money, while the Heat is currently preserving that money for Thompson.
The financial issue adds another obstacle to a potential DeRozan-Miami pairing. Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reported previously that DeRozan could be limited to Miami’s veteran minimum, which would count approximately $2.5 million against the Heat’s salary-cap, tax and apron figures.
DeRozan remains one of the most accomplished free agents available after Sacramento waived him. The six-time All-Star averaged 18.4 points, 4.1 assists and 2.9 rebounds in 77 games for the Kings during the 2025-26 season while shooting 49.7% from the field and 32.0% from three-point range.
The 36-year-old has spent nearly his entire career as a starter. DeRozan has started 1,252 of his 1,264 career games, with his only 12 reserve appearances coming during his rookie season with Toronto in 2009-10.
That history creates a potential role question in Miami, particularly after the Heat acquired Giannis Antetokounmpo from Milwaukee and continued building around Antetokounmpo, Bam Adebayo and Andrew Wiggins.
A league scout told Winderman that DeRozan could still provide late-game shot creation but questioned whether his ball-dominant, mid-range-heavy offensive style would fit alongside Miami’s two frontcourt stars. DeRozan has converted only 30.2% of his career three-point attempts, making spacing a significant consideration for a team built around Antetokounmpo and Adebayo.
The scout also suggested DeRozan would need to embrace a sixth-man role to make the fit work. DeRozan has averaged 4.1 assists over his 17-year career and posted a career-high 6.9 assists per game with San Antonio in 2020-21, but his primary offensive value remains creating his own shot.
Miami already added another experienced scoring option this offseason by signing Tim Hardaway Jr. to a one-year, $6.5 million contract. Hardaway averaged 11.4 points per game in 2025-26 and offers significantly more three-point volume than DeRozan.
The Heat finished 43-39 last season and entered the postseason through the play-in tournament before their roster changed dramatically with the Antetokounmpo trade. Miami is therefore weighing DeRozan’s individual scoring production against the financial and stylistic requirements of a roster now designed to contend around Antetokounmpo and Adebayo.
