The Warriors await the outcome with LeBron James, while DeMar DeRozan is increasingly emerging as a backup plan
The Golden State Warriors are entering one of the most delicate moments of their recent history with a dual imperative: they must find a way to strengthen the offense around Stephen Curry, but at the same time they must not lose too much time in a market that is quickly emptying after the opening of free agency. According to reports from American media that follow the NBA market, the first major target of the San Francisco franchise remains LeBron James, but DeMar DeRozan is also being mentioned more and more often as a more realistic alternative if the pursuit of one of the greatest players of all time does not produce a result. That scenario gains additional weight after the Sacramento Kings ended their cooperation with DeRozan, opening the veteran's path toward the free-agent market. According to a report by ESPN's Shams Charania, the decision by the Kings and the player was made after no feasible solution was found through a trade, and that development immediately changed the dynamics of available options for teams seeking a proven scorer.
DeRozan's name in the context of Golden State is no coincidence. The Warriors are still a team defined by Curry's gravity, quick ball movement and shooting identity, but in recent seasons they have increasingly searched for a player who can independently create points in moments when defenses adjust to their primary actions. DeRozan is not the classic profile of reinforcement for a modern NBA team relying on threes and spacing, but his value lies in something that remains difficult to replace in the playoffs and late-game situations: reliable isolation play, trips to the free-throw line and calmness from mid-range. That is precisely why his market may be broader than his age and defensive limitations would suggest. According to available information, the Warriors could explore the possibility of bringing him in, especially if James's arrival proves too expensive, logistically too complicated or simply unattainable.
LeBron's uncertainty slows decisions in San Francisco
As of June 30, 2026, LeBron James is no longer presented as a player who will continue his career with the Los Angeles Lakers, after NBA.com reported that he had informed the club of his intention to play elsewhere in his 24th NBA season. That news opened room for speculation about multiple destinations, and Golden State naturally found itself among the most prominent possibilities because of Curry, Steve Kerr's coaching experience and the reputation of an organization that has already won four titles in the era of the current core. But big names do not mean simple transactions. CBS Sports, citing reports by Anthony Slater of ESPN, states that the Warriors have not received a clear indication that they are favorites in the race for James, which further increases the risk of waiting.
For Golden State, the problem is that the market does not stop while James decides. Free agents agree to contracts, clubs use exceptions, and potential veterans choose environments in which they see a clear role and a quick path toward competitiveness. If the Warriors remain focused for too long on the most ambitious scenario, they could be late for more realistic options that might change the headlines less, but would more concretely fill holes in the rotation. DeRozan is exactly that kind of player: he is not LeBron and does not bring the same all-encompassing impact, but his availability and offensive profile can be much more practical for a team that does not want to spend the rest of Curry's prime on uncertainty.
James's case is also different because of the scale of his legacy. The NBA profile states that the 41-year-old forward has entered the 24th season of his career and has four championship titles, four Finals Most Valuable Player awards and a record level of longevity behind him. Every decision about his future therefore has sporting, commercial and symbolic significance. For the Warriors, bringing in James would mean an attempt to create a historic Curry-James pair in the final phase of their careers, but also a series of financial, tactical and hierarchy-related questions. If that door closes, the club will have to quickly show that it has a backup plan that is not merely a reaction to failure, but a thoughtful correction of the roster.
DeRozan after Sacramento: a proven scorer on an unusual market
DeMar DeRozan arrived in Sacramento in July 2024 through an agreed sign-and-trade with the Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs, with the Kings then receiving a six-time All-Star and three-time All-NBA team member. The NBA's official announcement of that transaction described him as a major reinforcement for Sacramento's then core, but over time the project did not develop into a stable contender for the top of the Western Conference. According to Hoops Rumors and reports connected with American NBA insiders, DeRozan's contract for the 2026/27 season included a high nominal salary, but only a partially guaranteed amount, which made a termination or waiver a financially understandable solution for a club changing direction. ESPN then reported that the Kings were releasing him after working together on a solution and after trade scenarios did not produce an acceptable agreement.
From a sporting perspective, DeRozan still offers clear value. Official NBA data present him as a highly experienced player, and NBA.com highlighted back in 2025 that he became the 27th player in league history to pass the 25,000-point mark. At that moment, he joined a narrow circle of active players with such an achievement, alongside LeBron James, Kevin Durant, James Harden, Russell Westbrook and Stephen Curry. That context is important because it shows that DeRozan is not just a short-term name on the market, but one of the most successful scorers of his generation. Although his style differs from the shooting direction in which the NBA is moving, his ability to punish switches, draw contact and play a possession without help from the system remains useful for teams that want to relieve their primary creators.
In the season that preceded his departure from Sacramento, according to statistical data reported by American media, DeRozan was still an efficient scorer with an average of 18.4 points and almost 50 percent shooting from the field. But the same reports also emphasize familiar reservations: he is not an elite three-point shooter, he is not an ideal perimeter defender and he functions best when he has the ball in his hands. For the Warriors, that is both an advantage and a challenge. As the leader of the second unit or a secondary creator, he could bring stability when Curry sits, but as a player in the closing five he would have to fit into a system that requires quick decision-making, off-ball movement and defensive discipline.
Why DeRozan could fit the Warriors
Golden State's need is not only in adding a big name, but in solving concrete problems. Curry, according to his official NBA profile, remains the engine of the offense, and the Warriors ended the 2025/26 season with a play-in loss to the Phoenix Suns, in which Curry scored 17 points while shooting poorly from the field. Such games do not change his status, but they serve as a reminder of how heavy the burden is when an opponent can direct all attention toward him. A team that wants to extend its championship window cannot rely only on occasional explosions from its best player; it needs additional ways to create points, especially in the half court.
In that sense, DeRozan would bring a different geometry to the offense. While Curry opens the floor with deep shooting and off-ball movement, DeRozan traditionally attacks the middle of the court, seeks contact and uses a slower rhythm to get to spots from which he has for years been among the most reliable finishers. Such a contrast can be useful if it is clearly defined. In minutes without Curry, DeRozan could take over possessions that in previous seasons often ended in improvisation or difficult shots. In minutes with Curry, he could punish defenses that come out too aggressively on the perimeter, but only if he accepts a role that will not slow the flow of the ball.
The financial framework limits every ambition
On June 30, 2026, the NBA announced that the salary cap for the 2026/27 season is 164.961 million U.S. dollars, while the luxury-tax threshold was set at 200.428 million. In the same announcement, the league also stated the levels of the first and second apron, as well as the amounts of various mid-level exceptions, which is especially important for teams that want to add veterans without major room under the salary cap. In such an environment, every Warriors decision must be viewed through a combination of sporting impact and consequences under the collective bargaining agreement. Bringing in James would be extremely complex because it would involve a much larger financial and roster obligation, while DeRozan, after leaving Sacramento, could be more accessible on a contract that does not require an equally dramatic reconstruction.
That does not mean DeRozan would automatically be a cheap or simple addition. If multiple candidates assess that he can be the final important piece in a title chase, his price can rise, especially if he agrees to choose among teams that offer him a clear role. The Warriors would have to be careful not to spend their remaining flexibility on a player who solves only one part of the problem. Their defense, size on the wing and consistency of the second unit are just as important questions as additional points. That is why DeRozan is a logical, but not a perfect answer.
For Golden State, the financial argument is connected with time. If the market moves quickly, it is possible that DeRozan's representatives will turn toward clubs that can immediately present a concrete offer. Waiting for LeBron in such a scenario has a price. A club that wants to remain in the race for the highest goals must know when to end the pursuit of the maximum gain and accept a more feasible move. That is precisely why DeRozan's name becomes a test of the Warriors' strategic discipline.
Miami, Toronto and other candidates are watching the situation develop
The Warriors are not the only potential destination. According to reports from American media, possible destinations include the Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors, Los Angeles Lakers and other candidates, although some sources have stated that the Lakers are currently not inclined to pursue DeRozan. Miami is naturally connected with veterans who can help in the fight for the top of the East, and the organization has a long reputation for developing clear roles for experienced players. DeRozan's style would not be perfect alongside every combination in Miami, but his ability to create points outside the system is always intriguing for a team seeking an additional option in the closing stages of games.
Toronto is the most emotionally interesting possibility. DeRozan began his career there after the franchise selected him with the ninth pick of the 2009 draft, and together with Kyle Lowry he was the face of the period in which the Raptors built a stable identity before the championship season of 2019. A return to Canada would carry strong symbolism, especially if it happened in the role of a veteran who no longer has to carry the entire offense. But sentimental appeal is not enough by itself. Toronto would have to assess whether DeRozan fits into its current ambitions, distribution of minutes and development of younger players.
The risk of waiting and the reality of the backup plan
The biggest dilemma for the Warriors is not whether DeRozan is a good enough player, but when and under what conditions it makes sense to move toward him. If James remains an open option, it is hard to expect Golden State to fully give up before receiving a clearer signal. Still, according to available reports, there is no confirmation that the Warriors are the leading candidate for James, and such uncertainty can paralyze the rest of the plan. In modern NBA free agency, speed is often just as important as ambition, because the difference between a successful and a missed summer can be a few days of waiting.
DeRozan, in the best-case scenario for Golden State, would be an addition that strengthens the offense without taking over the team's identity. He could lead the second unit, play closing stretches when a secure possession is needed and reduce the pressure on Curry during the long season. In the riskiest scenario, however, he would slow the pace, reduce spacing and force coach Kerr into defensive compromises. That is why negotiations would have to include clear communication about role, minutes and expectations. A veteran of DeRozan's rank should hardly arrive in an environment where his function is defined only after signing.
For the NBA market as a whole, this situation shows how much values have changed. In the past, a player with DeRozan's résumé would almost automatically have been one of the most sought-after free agents. Today clubs measure every addition through three-point shooting, defensive versatility, age, aprons and flexibility for future trades. Still, basketball in the closing stages of games often returns to the basic question: who can create a good shot when the system stops. DeRozan still has a convincing answer to that question, which is why Golden State, Miami, Toronto and the other candidates cannot lightly pass over his name.
If the Warriors are truly waiting for the final outcome with LeBron James, the coming days could determine the tone of their entire summer. James would be a historic move and a global story, but DeRozan could be a more pragmatic path toward the same goal: extending the relevance of the Curry era. In that sense, his availability is not just a secondary free-agency story, but a signal that a veteran has appeared on the market who can still change the plans of several ambitious franchises. Golden State must decide how long it can wait for the greatest possible prize before the backup plan becomes an opportunity that can no longer be recovered.
Sources:
- ESPN / Shams Charania – report on the Sacramento Kings' decision to release DeMar DeRozan and open his path toward the free-agent market (link)
- Hoops Rumors – overview of DeRozan's status, contract framework and reports on Sacramento's options before the separation (link)
- NBA.com – official DeMar DeRozan profile with biographical and statistical data (link)
- NBA.com – official announcement of DeRozan joining the club of players with more than 25,000 points (link)
- NBA.com / Sacramento Kings – official announcement of DeMar DeRozan's arrival in Sacramento in 2024 (link)
- NBA.com – official LeBron James profile with biographical data, statistics and announcement of his departure from the Lakers (link)
- NBA.com – analysis of the end of LeBron's period with the Los Angeles Lakers and the context of his next decision (link)
- CBS Sports – analysis of the Warriors, the pursuit of LeBron James and uncertainty around their status in that race (link)
- NBA.com – official Stephen Curry profile and context of the Warriors' end to the 2025/26 season (link)
- NBA.com – official announcement of the salary cap, luxury-tax threshold and apron levels for the 2026/27 season (link)