The Boston Celtics could still improve their roster before the 2026-27 NBA season arrives
One name has been connected to Boston in free agency: DeMar DeRozan
The NBA’s No. 18 scorer on the all-time list was cut earlier this offseason by the Sacramento Kings, which can allow DeRozan to land with a contender as his career winds down
DeRozan can still put the ball in the basket. Last season, he averaged 18.4 points per game for the Kings, and in his career, he has averaged 21.1 points per game
He could definitely help the Celtics, too, and Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale lists the Celtics as the best possible landing spot in free agency for DeRozan
“The Celtics have the spacing to cover up for DeRozan’s finite range and could use another secondary table-setter other than Jayson Tatum, Payton Pritchard and Derrick White,” Favale writes. “Something has gone wrong if Mike Conley is a factor, and Boston can’t count on Paul George to play in every game.”
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Favale also suggests that the Miami Heat or Utah Jazz could work for DeRozan
It’d be in Boston’s interest to at least keep him away from Miami
“Adding DeRozan would put the Celtics back in the tax,” Favale does acknowledge as part of the new article. “That’s a no-go as they look to reset the repeater clock. But they can duck back beneath it with a smaller trade at the deadline or ahead of the 2027 draft.”
DeRozan also adds some playmaking ability, as he averaged better than four assists per game for the Kings last season
The newly acquired Paul George won’t do as much work off the bounce as Jaylen Brown did, and so maybe DeRozan could fill some of that role in the offense if he comes to Boston
DeRozan likely isn’t in a rush, but with LeBron James off the board, teams will finally start to finalize their offseason moves. That could mean that if the Celtics want DeRozan, they should take care of it sooner rather than later
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