The Toronto Raptors’ decision to bring in Kawhi Leonard has fueled plenty of optimism, but it may also have complicated a different idea: a reunion with DeMar DeRozan.
DeRozan makes sense on paper as a veteran addition, yet the fit is not as simple as it looks. One CBS reporter laid out the case this way: “It comes down to how much faith Toronto has in its ability to score when Leonard is on the bench.
If the Raptors want to have a spare half-court shot-maker, sure, DeRozan at the minimum is good bang for their buck. But with Scottie Barnes ascending into true stardom last season, it feels likelier that Toronto just staggers him and Leonard and trusts Barnes to generate their offense when Kawhi rests.
It's not out of the realm of possibility, but it's not the cleanest fit either,” Sam Quinn wrote.
There’s also the Drake factor, and that piece of the story is hard to ignore. DeRozan is not as well liked in Toronto, and the rapper’s own words have added another layer to that reality.
In his song “National Treasure,” Drake said, "When you was a part of the team we used to be plannin' our Mexico trip in the spring. We must've been dealin' in spur of the moment' cause why did we think you could get us a ring?"
That’s a pointed line, and while Drake is not the one making roster calls, his influence in Toronto is real enough that it could matter here. Whether it actually changes the Raptors’ thinking is another question, but the possibility is there.
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There is appeal in the idea of adding a veteran scorer who could steady second units and take some pressure off the stars, but the fit is not especially clean. Toronto would have to weigh shooting concerns and the overlap between DeRozans game, Leonards usage and Scottie Barnes role as an offense driver when Leonard sits, which makes this a more complicated basketball question than a nostalgic one. [Read more 🡒]
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