The thought of the Toronto Raptors reuniting with DeMar DeRozan seems unlikely, but there’s three reasons why the team should make it happen. It’s hard to think of a former Raptors player that is more loved than DeRozan. Kawhi Leonard brought a championship to Toronto, but DeRozan built the foundation that made it impossible.
Currently making $28M on the last year of his contract, DeRozan wouldn’t be cheap to acquire. That’s what makes the possibility of a reunion harder than it seems, but if James Harden, John Wall, and Russell Westbrook can be traded, anything is possible.
The 6-foot-6 shooting guard spent nine seasons in Toronto, and if it were up to him, he would still be here. Instead of signing a deal to head back home to Los Angeles, DeRozan re-signed with the Raptors for five years and $145M in July 2016.
DeRozan backed up his contract by being named to the All-NBA team in 2016-17 and 2017-18, but the playoff failures pushed Masai Ujiri to make the biggest trade of his career. After DeRozan thought he was safe and was going to be a Raptor for life, Ujiri shocked the world by trading him to the San Antonio Spurs for an unknown commodity in Leonard.
Although it wasn’t a storybook ending for DeRozan in Toronto, the chapter on his career isn’t over yet, so there’s time to close on a high note.
3 reasons why the Toronto Raptors should re-acquire DeMar DeRozan
No. 1: DeMar DeRozan could help keep Kyle Lowry
Rumors have not only been swirling around DeRozan, but also Kyle Lowry. The greatest Raptors player of all-time (sorry, DeRozan), Lowry could be on his way out before this season is over. In order to keep Lowry happy and make sure he doesn’t request out would be to trade for his old buddy DeMar.
It’s no secret that Lowry was frustrated when the Raptors traded DeRozan to the Spurs. The two had created a friendship that was much bigger than basketball. They had developed a relationship off the court that was special and they turned into best friends.
After putting Toronto on the map and making the city proud, the duo that got them to the playoffs every year and won a franchise-high 59 games was finished. Even though the trade ultimately turned into an NBA championship, there’s still baggage from that move and Lowry probably still has some frustration behind it.
Upon his return to Toronto for the first time, Lowry told CBC’s Lori Ewing the following in regards to DeRozan.
"‘One day we’ll retire, we’ll be hanging out on the porch, drinking lemonade together.”"
If DeRozan returned to the Raptors, they wouldn’t have to wait until retirement for that glass of lemonade, as the two have unfinished business together. Even at 31 years old, he can provide 20 points per night and would make Lowry extremely motivated to run it back for another title.