Can Raptors afford DeMar DeRozan after this season?

Preface: As I was researching this post, word began to leak about Jonas Valanciunas's contract extension and raise. While my first thought was to toss my work into the bit bucket at the end of the rainbow, I decided to proceed, on the premise that DeMar's situation is worthy of consideration on its own.

More from Raptors News

A “black swan” in economic terms is an event which changes everything. The NBA will be experiencing one of those singularities following this season, when the salary cap takes a mighty leap upwards. While the final amount has not been determined, most observers are operating on the assumption that a leap from $68M to $90M is a given. The NBA commences a new and immensely rich television deal, which pumps up BRI (Basketball-Related Income) to a level never seen before. As the salary cap is a function of BRI, up we go.

Apr 21, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors center guard DeMar DeRozan (10) dribbles past Washington Wizards forward Otto Porter (22) in the second quarter in game two of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Peter Llewellyn-USA TODAY Sports

Before this post approaches a new low in dullness, I’ll get to the point. The Toronto Raptors are not somehow immune to the winds of change. Let’s consider how one core player, DeMar DeRozan, will be positively affected.

When DD signed his last contract, in 2010, the final season was a player option. In other words, he can opt-in for the ’16-’17 season at $10.5M, or opt-out and try his luck on the market. Unless this upcoming season is a disaster for him, his luck should be very good indeed. A consistent 19+ Points Per Game man and All-Star can’t name his price, but for certain he’ll expect a boatload more money than his current deal allows. DeMarre Carroll, who’s never approached DD’s productivity, will make 50% more than him this season. DD’s PER of 17.46 outpaces DeMarre’s 15.94 – how does any of this make sense?

As an informal comparison, let’s consider several of DeMar’s peers. Goran Dragic of the HEAT leads DD in PER by a meaningless .01, so they are essentially equally productive. Dragic will make almost 50% more this year. Jimmy Butler of Chicago has a 5-year, $90M contract. Is he that much better than DD?

OK, DeMar is underpaid by the crazy standards of today’s NBA. Can Toronto keep him in the fold, and do we want to?

DeMar is a B+ offensive player [20-second timeout: I’d love to mark him higher, but he’s a shooting guard with a 27% career accuracy mark from beyond the arc after 6 years in the league.], a C- defender, and rates an A for intangibles. That’s a valuable man to have on your side, and we need to think long and hard before deciding to move him.

But if Kevin Durant wants to become a Raptor, the team may not be able to afford both men. The biggest mistakes ever made by Raptors GMs in the past pertained to not trading imminent free agents (Tracy McGrady, then Chris Bosh) in the hope they would re-sign. Masai will move DD before the trade deadline rather than let that happen.

Next: Lucas Nogueira - is he ready for the spotlight?

More from Raptors Rapture

Home/Raptors News