Why the Raptors make the most sense for DeRozan
Speculation of Toronto Raptors' franchise players fleeing for their hometowns as free agents is nothing new. Once upon a time, Vince Carter was supposedly bound from Toronto to the Orlando Magic, and later Chris Bosh to the Dallas Mavericks or Houston Rockets. With the exception of Tracy McGrady to the Magic in 2000, the rumors didn't come to fruition.
Enter DeMar DeRozan, circa 2016. While some conjecture has had the Compton, Calif., native linked with the Los Angeles Lakers or Clippers, virtually everything points to the two-time NBA All-Star staying put in Toronto - including a report that he has no plans to even bother meeting with another team.
Beyond his stated comfort level with the organization and the city, the reason for DeRozan staying is simple: winning.
The Lakers' current roster speaks for itself. While the Clippers are, by definition, a contender in the Western Conference, in practice they have proven not to be in the same class of the Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs, or an Oklahoma City Thunder team with a retained Kevin Durant.
The Raptors won a franchise-record 56 games in 2015-16 and reached their first Eastern Conference finals. While the team on paper remains behind the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Raps at the present time afford DeRozan his best opportunity to play deepest into the postseason - partly by virtue of being in the East.
While there has also been reported interest from the Warriors, Magic, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, and Brooklyn Nets, all except Golden State fall into similar categories. Furthermore, the Warriors' interest is likely due diligence at best - DeRozan is simply not a fit with the team's system.
Which brings up the Raptors' perspective. While the swingman appears to be a shoo-in to re-sign, it's not entirely something that comes with universal support among Raptors observers. Some feel that DeRozan's isolation-heavy play and lack of a consistent outside shot make him a dinosaur - no pun intended - in today's NBA. His career-high in 3-point accuracy came last season at 33.8 percent, as did his career-high in scoring (23.5 points per game).
But therein lies the dilemma: A team's leading scorer can't just be replaced overnight. It would be a risk to renounce DeRozan and go after a more trendy player like Nicolas Batum, and general manager Masai Ujiri is not known for taking wanton chances. Even with a jacked cap and subsequently higher salaries, it is wise for teams like the Raptors to control their assets, and that includes inking DeRozan for the next five years.
Chemistry has also been a major factor in the Raptors' rise to prominence over the past three seasons, something DeRozan has been a central part of. He and point guard Kyle Lowry (likely to be an unrestricted free agent next summer due his opt-out clause) have formed a close bond as they became one of the top backcourt pairings in the NBA.