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Raptors' DeRozan working on his trey at Drew League

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports / reuters

Toronto Raptors swingman DeMar DeRozan has earned a reputation as a hard offseason worker. He's generally entered each of his six NBA seasons with some aspect of his game improved - most notably his handles.

One thing that's eluded the 6-foot-7 guard, however, is a consistent 3-point stroke (DeRozan is a career 27 percent shooter from deep). A steady 3-point shot is a skill most NBA teams covet from their top wing player and leading scorer, although there are exceptions like Dwyane Wade.

DeRozan has been lighting up his native L.A.'s Drew League this month, and Sunday he dropped 38 points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists, and four steals while displaying a fearless attack from beyond the arc.

Stat-stuffing in a summer league must be taken with a large grain of salt, but if DeRozan's goal was to improve his 3-point shot this summer, it would at least appear he succeeded.

DeRozan actually isn't a bad 3-point shooter from the corners.

It's the rest of the area beyond the arc that's posed the issue, as this past season's shot chart indicates.

(Courtesy: PointAfter.com)

DeRozan was either open or not being aggressively contested on a couple of the treys in the Drew League highlights, and he's obviously had more success from deep in that scenario at the NBA level. Last season, he hit 36.6 percent of his open threes (defenders within 4-6 feet), according to NBA stats.

That said, he also hit a couple of bombs in the video with hands in his face. Regardless, it behooves DeRozan - who turns 26 in two weeks - to improve on his range and mechanics, and not just to help the Raptors. He can opt out of his contract next summer, and he almost assuredly will, given the upcoming spike in the salary cap.

- With h/t to EOB

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