Raptors’ Sally Field moment – why DeMar will stay with team
By Brian Boake
The importance of player chemistry is called out by a respected commentator, who says Raptors are in good shape.
The plugged-in Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports offers an excellent counterpoint video to those who believe analytics trump all else. He makes the point by specific reference to the Toronto Raptors, with the claim that the personal chemistry between DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry goes a long way to explaining our team’s success this season.
He further offers examples of teams lacking cohesiveness, specifically the Cleveland Cavaliers (there are ongoing rumours of issues among LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love), Houston Rockets (the gifted James Harden and Dwight Howard are not on the same page) and the Los Angeles Clippers (do they really want Blake Griffin back?).
I bring this matter up because I’m intrigued by my ongoing search to discover the limits of analytical data, particularly when it is being scoured by better minds than mine to determine which player should be selected with our team’s precious lottery pick.
However, the draft is not the only major task Raptors President & GM Masai Ujiri must cope with in the off-season. All-Star shooting guard DeRozan is certain to opt out of his contract’s final season and become an Unrestricted Free Agent. There will be a plethora of suitors knocking at his door, and Masai knows he and the entire Raptors organization will be hard-pressed to keep DD in Raptors colours.
Our GM has already made clear whom he believes to be members of our core group by resigning Jonas Valanciunas and Terrence Ross to extended contracts with healthy raises. DeMarre Carroll, Patrick Patterson and Lowry are already on board with multi-year deals.
This isn’t the moment for a lengthy examination of finances. Assuming Masai can find the money for DeMar, why should he stay with the only team he’s played for as a pro? That’s where chemistry enters the picture. DeMar is an old-fashioned man, in the best sense of the term. He’s married and a father. If he has disputes with anyone, like DeMarcus Cousins does with his coach George Karl, we’ve never seen it. He’s the last guy you’d expect to hear pulling a Blake Griffin by punching out an equipment manager. He’s not been shy about expressing his loyalty to the Raptors.
And he’s close friends with Kyle Lowry.
There’s lots of noise out of the Los Angeles Lakers camp about offering DeMar a max deal. Some seem to have a glib notion that since DeMar is from nearby Compton, he would like to play at home for a storied franchise. Perhaps, but a lot of players are candid about not wanting to play for their hometown teams, as they don’t need the added pressure. The Lakers have a long rebuild in front of them. DeMar has been through one of those in Toronto; I can’t see him agreeing to go elsewhere to begin again. He’ll be 27 in August – it’s time for him to make an all-out push for a championship ring. Why not here, with players and in an organization where he’s already held in high regard?
What does all of this have to do with analytics? Nothing, actually, which is the point. We can assess individuals ad nauseum, but we don’t truly know how well they will perform in a team context until they are on the floor.
“On one hand, you’ve got athletes, and on the other, you’ve got basketball players.” Some scout said that, though I can’t find attribution (please send if you have). The magic consists in finding (and retaining!) people who are both.