DeMar DeRozan, the Raptors’ all-time leader in games played, minutes, played, and points scored, will not be making his way back to Toronto, after all. DeRozan parted way with the Kings and there was wild speculation as to where he might end up. Rumours abounded that he was destined for a return to the 6ix, or perhaps headed to Miami, but in a cruel twist of irony, he is going to join the team that the Raptors beat for the 2019 Championship to play alongside Stephen Curry, as DeRozan enters his 17th
season in the league.
Shams Charania reported the news today on August 13th, conveying information from DeRozan’s agent. The 8.4 million dollars is far from the veteran’s minimum, but is a far cry from the more than 24 million he earned last year. This will be his lowest earning year since the 2012-13 season when he was on the Raptors.
This fresh start for DeRozan will see him stay in his home state of California, close to his native Los Angeles. While I personally believe that it’ll be good for the shooting guard to be both close to his roots and in a new city, it stings that we won’t see him play in Toronto at this juncture. Am I blaming the Kawhi uncertainty for this? Yes, and no. I don’t think it helped the Raptors’ position that they don’t have any clear idea of whether or not they’ll have a starting small forward in Leonard this season, but regardless, I didn’t see DeRozan playing a massive role in Toronto — at most, leading the bench mob — so it certainly makes sense that the wing would be happier in some different pastures.
While it’s currently unknown what type of role he’ll play in Golden State, the Warriors are indeed in need of some veteran presence and a baseline level of competency, considering how rough things were last year when Stephen Curry was out, a disadvantage even more pronounced now that Jimmy Butler remains out with a torn ACL. It’s likely that DeRozan will be in a starting role, one where he’ll be able to play off against Curry, his best teammate in years, and certainly his most pedigreed co-star.
I’d like to see DeMar get back to a 20+ppg form on the Warriors, even if he’s not with us. I think legacy is what comes to mind the most in the latter years of NBA stars, so I wish DeRozan the best in the twilight years, even if they’re not in the red and black.
At least, yet.
