4 Former Raptors who have thrived since leaving, 2 who have fallen flat

Thriving: DeMar DeRozan

The Toronto Raptors traded away one of the most prolific players in franchise history in 2018, sending DeMar DeRozan away in the Kawhi Leonard trade. That move unlocked a championship for the Raptors, and it seemed to signal the end of DeRozan being a meaningful player. If getting rid of him made the Raptors better, why would other NBA teams think him the answer to their problems?

Yet DeRozan has continued to be viewed as one of the stars of the league, and the Chicago Bulls handed him a large contract a few years ago and were rewarded with a trio of star-level seasons. DeRozan was Second Team All-NBA in 2021-22, an All-Star in 2023-23, and was the runner-up for Clutch Player of the Year this past season.

In part, DeRozan deserves credit for continuing to grow as a scorer, but he also seemed to buy into being coached by Gregg Popovich in San Antonio and improving as a playmaker. That has served him well in the years since, making him a more multifaceted offensive player.

Far from washed-up, DeRozan then secured another big contract, this time from the Sacramento Kings. He remains a lethal isolation scorer and a good passer, and those are carrying him despite declining athleticism and his usual shaky defense. DeRozan washed off the stink of his Raptors exit and is thriving.