The case for re-signing DeMar DeRozan, Part 2 of 2
By Brian Boake
Yes, DeMar is going to be expensive. But not having him on the Raptors would cost a lot more.
Yesterday I talked about DeMar DeRozan the player, and about money. Those things are tangible. Today I want to discuss matters beyond the tangible.
More from Raptors News
- Scottie Barnes talks Raptors expectations after bumpy 2022-23
- Raptors’ Dennis Schroder completes Cinderella story, wins FIBA World Cup with Germany
- NBA insider praises Raptors’ hiring of “star” Darko Rajakovic
- Raptors fans will love Markquis Nowell’s insane confidence on Instagram
- Raptors news: Dennis Schroder takes shot at Lakers, Scottie Barnes moves to Toronto
What would be the ramifications of the Toronto Raptors not striking a deal with DeRozan? Many, varied, and almost entirely negative.
A failure to close on DeRozan would be a huge shock to the entire NBA. Think of it: the team’s most prized player, who was so determined to return that he refused to book meetings with other teams, couldn’t come to terms with Raptors management on a new contract. No matter what kind of gloss the top brass tried to paint on, there’s not an player agent anywhere who would tell his client “You really should consider Toronto. They are turning into a serious contender.” I mentioned in Part 1 we might be able to get two free agents for the money DeRozan will be asking for. That’s true in theory, but it wouldn’t be in practise.
And how about the Raptors players? How motivated would Kyle Lowry be to maintain the fitness level which so helped his game last season? The last thing we need to see is Lowry punching the clock, and no more, in an effort to get traded from the team which punted his best friend.
That’s the thing about DeMar. He seems to be everyone’s best friend on the team, a characteristic he’s always had. He’s a stable, mature-beyond-his-years man, with a wife and daughter he clearly cherishes.
DeMar and Kyle have been named to the U.S. Olympic team, an honour not offered to malcontents.
Masai Ujiri has taken note of the importance of continuity, and of team chemistry. Once you have those things in place, they must be protected.
For the first time ever, you can click on “season seat wait list” at the Raptors website. I suspect that list would quickly evaporate should DeMar step away in frustration.
Raptors fans in Toronto, in Canada and around the globe would be aghast. After the best 3 seasons in team history, we’d be losing a team cornerstone. I don’t even want to think about another rebuild. I’ve endured so many of the wretched things, I know the entire script.
Rapture Nation, we’re fans of a title contender. We won’t be if DeMar moves on. Maybe he’s not “worth” crazy money, but this is today’s NBA. Someone is going to pay him, and it might as well be the Raptors.