NBA: Wizards show interest in acquiring free agent DeMar DeRozan

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The Washington Wizards just joined the DeMar DeRozan sweepstakes.

On Aug. 19, 2026, veteran NBA insider Marc Stein revealed that the Eastern Conference franchise is planning to pursue the six-time NBA All-Star to boost its chances of ending a five-year playoff appearance drought.

Initially, Washington offered Russell Westbrook a two-year homecoming contract, but the superstar point guard decided to hang up his jersey and retire on Aug. 12, 2026.

Following the Wizards’ failed offseason acquisition, Washington is now redirecting its focus to luring DeRozan to a deal.

“The Wizards shifted their intent to sign another veteran this offseason by showing some interest in DeMar DeRozan,” Stein said.

With the acquisition of Trae Young and the retention of Anthony Davis, the Wizards are looking to barge into the top tier of the East.

They also drafted the No. 1 prospect out of the NCAA, AJ Dybantsa, who made two appearances in the NBA Summer League, averaging 25.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.5 steals, 2.0 assists, and 1.5 blocks.

However, Washington will face tough competition from the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Denver Nuggets in its pursuit of DeRozan.

Before the Wizards entered the picture, these three teams emerged as DeRozan’s top potential destinations, sharing a common need ahead of the next NBA season: additional scoring.

Despite landing Giannis Antetokounmpo this offseason, the Heat sacrificed a significant portion of their outside scoring, specifically with the loss of Tyler Herro and Jaime Jaquez Jr., two of their most consistent scorers last season.

For Cleveland, a third scoring option in the backcourt remains a need after head coach Kenny Atkinson decided to play James Harden and Donovan Mitchell together in the starting lineup.

Several NBA analysts believe DeRozan would be a great fit for the Cavaliers off the bench, providing scoring for the second unit while allowing Harden and Mitchell more time to rest.

Denver is in a similar situation, as Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray’s scoring alone failed to push the Nuggets deeper into last season’s playoffs.

Their first-round loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves was clear evidence that they needed another reliable scorer, as the one-two punch of Jokic and Murray could not propel Denver to a series win despite averaging a combined 60 points over six games.

During his final season in Sacramento, DeRozan still posted strong numbers, averaging 18.4 points, 4.1 assists, and 2.9 rebounds per game.