DeMar DeRozan’s next stop may depend on where LeBron James lands, but the veteran guard-forward already has one destination in mind: Toronto.
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, DeRozan is among the experienced names waiting in the wings while the free-agent market stays frozen around James’ decision. Fischer said the Kings could still waive or stretch DeRozan by the end of August, a move that would mostly affect Sacramento’s cap situation and likely send DeRozan to another team on a veteran minimum deal.
“The Kings are holding out the option to waive or stretch DeMar potentially by the end of August,” reported Jake Fischer. “That really just impacts Sacramento’s books.
Regardless, DeMar is waived, and he’s almost certainly going to be on a vet minimum somewhere else. Could it be Toronto?
He certainly has interest there, but I think DeMar’s most likely landing spots are going to be teams that don’t get LeBron James.”
Fischer also pointed to Miami, Cleveland and Golden State as possible landing spots if those teams miss out on James.
“I think Miami, Cleveland, Golden State, I think those teams are all going to be in the play for him if they don’t get LeBron,” added Fischer. “You can add him to the docket of the Khris Middletons, the Bradley Beals, whoever, these vet minimum guys that are kind of waiting to see what happens with LeBron first.”
DeRozan, now 36, still had something left in the tank last season. He averaged 18.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.3 blocks per game while shooting 49.7% from the field and 32.0% from three. Sacramento no longer needed that production on a younger roster, but he could still fit on a team built to win now.
Toronto stands out because of the history. DeRozan spent nine seasons with the Raptors from 2009 to 2018, becoming a bona fide All-Star and posting averages of 19.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.3 blocks per game on 44.8% shooting. He and Kyle Lowry helped push the franchise into the East’s upper tier before repeatedly running into LeBron James and the Cavaliers in the playoffs.
Then came the trade that sent DeRozan out in the deal for Kawhi Leonard, and the Raptors won their first NBA championship the following summer. Now a free agent, DeRozan has reason to want a return, especially with Leonard back in the picture and the possibility of another title run hanging out there.
The question is whether Toronto feels the same way. His fit with the current roster is not clean, and his inside-out game raises questions about how he would slot in. Still, with Brandon Ingram gone, the Raptors could use more help at forward, and DeRozan would give them scoring, leadership and another proven veteran presence.
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