The Toronto Raptors have made their interest in DeMar DeRozan clear, but they may not be alone in the chase.
DeRozan, who spent the first nine seasons of his career in Toronto from 2009-18 before the Raptors dealt him to the San Antonio Spurs for Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green, could be headed back to where it all started 17 years ago. Still, a return to Toronto is only one possibility in a market that already has a couple of teams circling.
The first real obstacle for the Raptors may be Detroit. The Pistons finished as the top team in the Eastern Conference this past season and pushed all the way to the second round of the playoffs before falling to the Cleveland Cavaliers in seven games. They were one win away from reaching the Eastern Conference Finals to face the New York Knicks, and that kind of near-miss can shape how a team approaches the offseason.
Detroit needs another creator next to Cade Cunningham, and DeRozan fits that bill. With Tobias Harris leaving in free agency for the San Antonio Spurs, the Pistons have a hole to fill, and DeRozan could be a clean answer.
Miami is the other team to watch. DeRozan has been tied to the Heat before whenever he has hit free agency, and that connection is back in play now. The Heat are in the middle of a major roster overhaul after landing Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks in a blockbuster deal that sent four players to Milwaukee.
They also lost Norman Powell in free agency to the Chicago Bulls, which leaves them looking for another shooting guard who can create his own offense. DeRozan would check that box as a starter, something Toronto may not be able to guarantee him.
There is one more wrinkle with Miami: the Heat are still in the LeBron James sweepstakes. If they land him, their priorities could shift. If LeBron goes elsewhere, DeRozan could become a more realistic target.
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