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'That Would Fill My Heart' -- Former Raptors Coach Yearns for DeMar DeRozan's Return to Toronto
While the NBA free-agency circuit has quieted down, DeMar DeRozan remains one of multiple high-profile players still on the open market after being waived by the Sacramento Kings last week.
The six-time All-Star wing’s next move is reportedly heavily tied to the biggest domino yet to fall, LeBron James, with numerous contenders viewing him as a quality consolation prize. DeRozan has also been linked to one of his former teams, the Toronto Raptors, with his ex-coach Dwane Casey among those most hopeful to see a reunion.
Dwane Casey Opens Up About DeMar DeRozan’s Potential Raptors Reunion
Upon being selected No. 9 by Toronto in the 2009 NBA Draft, DeRozan helped elevate the franchise from an Eastern Conference bottom-feeder into a perennial playoff team. He developed from an athletic wing prospect into one of the league’s premier midrange assassins, leading the Raptors to five straight postseason appearances alongside Kyle Lowry, with Casey on the sidelines.
Unfortunately for DeRozan, his Toronto squads repeatedly couldn’t get over the hump and into the NBA Finals, suffering three straight exits against the James-led Cleveland Cavaliers before his 2018 trade to the San Antonio Spurs, just over two months after Casey’s firing.
Eight years later, DeRozan could have an opportunity to return north of the border, with NBA insider Jake Fischer reporting on the 36-year-old’s “interest” in such a move amid connections to multiple James suitors.
“He’s almost certainly going to be on a vet minimum somewhere else. Could it be Toronto? … DeMar has interest in going back to the Raptors, but I think DeMar’s most likely landing spots are going to be teams that don’t get LeBron James,” Fischer said on a Bleacher Report livestream last week.
“I think Miami, Cleveland, Golden State, I think those teams are all going to be in play for him if they don’t get LeBron.”
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When asked about the possibility of the Raptors’ all-time leading scorer (13,296 points) potentially returning for one last hurrah, Casey didn’t hesitate to endorse the storybook ending.
“That would fill my heart if he did that,” Casey said on SiriusXM NBA Radio over the weekend. “Because again, he’s like a son, matter of fact, we lived in the same condo when I first got there, so we walked to practice every day. One of the finest young men that you have, a great teammate. He was the most talented player on our teams all those years in Toronto.
“… So, hopefully he could go back. I know money is always an issue on anything this time of year, but again, I know he’ll make the right decision. … I think it would be a great story for Toronto and for DeMar.”
While most Raptors fans would gladly welcome the franchise icon back on a bargain contract, according to team insider Michael Grange, such a scenario is unlikely as Toronto awaits its pending Kawhi Leonard trade.
“I’ve mentioned this before, but the Raptors really aren’t in a position to offer even veteran minimum deals to free agents such as former Raptors DeMar DeRozan or Jonas Valančiūnas, as much as it would make for a great story,” Grange wrote on Friday.
“As Toronto’s situation stands now, even a minimum deal, which counts as $2.49 million against the cap, puts them over the first apron. Since they are required to carry at least 14 players, one workaround would be to sign second-round pick Jaden Bradley to a minimum deal (he’s currently on a two-way) because it would only count as $1.4 million against the cap, so it would fit.”
Coming off a resurgent 46-win season and hard-fought seven-game first-round playoff series, the Raptors are looking to take the next step in the wide-open East. Leonard is expected to slot in as a bona fide No. 1 scoring option next to two-way forward Scottie Barnes and Toronto’s cast of burgeoning talent.
Though DeRozan’s addition would add a fun wrinkle to the Raptors’ title contention hopes, the 17-year veteran is likely to receive larger roles elsewhere, with RJ Barrett already providing a similar skill set on the wing for Toronto.
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