DeMar DeRozan Called Out by NBA Scout, Concerned About Fit with Giannis, Bam amid Heat Rumors

There are some concerns within the NBA regarding the potential fit of veteran forward DeMar DeRozan with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo on the Miami Heat next season.

"Well, he's got more left than Klay," an NBA scout told Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. "But stylistically is the problem. He's got to come off the bench – and he's never come off the bench in his entire career (12 total times, all as a rookie in 2009-10). With him, Bam and Giannis, there would be no spacing. And he's ball dominant.

"But if he could accept the role as a six-man type, he would bolster their bench and maybe finish games, too, I guess. No doubt, he can do that, as a finisher. Yeah, you could go to him. I think he's still got some go-to ability."

DeRozan's defense could also be an issue if Miami decides to sign him in free agency.

"I mean, he's not going to defend," the scout told Winderman. "When he was with San Antonio, he did start to pass the ball a little. But that's not why you have him. That's not his strength. But as a sixth-man, considering the other options, he's a cut above Thompson, for sure."

The Heat have been linked to DeRozan as well as veteran shooting guard Klay Thompson after LeBron James joined the Philadelphia 76ers on July 24.

DeRozan was waived by the Sacramento Kings on July 6, as the team finished with a 22-60 record last season. The 36-year-old averaged 18.4 points, 4.1 assists and 2.9 rebounds per game across 77 appearances.

While the six-time All-Star could operate in a smaller role on a team with contending aspirations such as Miami, spacing could become a problem when sharing the floor with Antetokounmpo and Adebayo.

Antetokounmpo has been a force around the basket throughout his career, as the two-time MVP led the league with an average of 18.7 points in the paint per game last year.

Surrounding Antetokounmpo with shooters to give him more space to drive was an effective offensive strategy throughout his tenure on the Milwaukee Bucks, but DeRozan has connected on just 30.2 percent of his three-point attempts during his career.

Although Adebayo expanded his shooting range last season and hit a career-high 127 triples, he also shot a mere 31.8 percent from behind the arc overall.

If DeRozan and Adebayo are spaced beyond the three-point line, it isn't hard to imagine opposing defenses helping off them whenever Antetokounmpo drives into the paint.

Still, DeRozan might fit on the Heat as an offensive engine off the bench while staggering his minutes with their two stars.