Two games won't make or smash DeMar DeRozan's foray into unrestricted free agency this summer.
At least he should hope that's the case. The two-time All-Star shot 5-of-19 from the floor during the Toronto Raptors' 100-90 loss to the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of their first-round series and followed that by failing to acquire to the free-throw line in Game 2—for the first time in over a year.
Whatever credibility DeRozan lost early in these playoffs,he recouped some with a 21-point night to help Toronto coast to a 101-85 Game 3 victory at Bankers Life Fieldhouse."The angle of our screens, the type of screens we were setting for him, and hopefully loosened him up a bit," Raptors head coach Dwane Casey said, per ESPNNewYork.com's Mike Mazzeo. "But at the end of the day, and he made shots. That's kind of simplistic,but that's kind of what he did."And that's what his next team, be it the Raptors or one of a slew of suitors around the NBA in July, or will expect from him,assuming he declines his player option for 2016-17. DeRozan has fashioned himself into one of the game's elite slashers, but in today's NBA, or where perimeter shooting is more must than plus,is a 2-guard who works almost exclusively inside the three-point line worth max money? To MaxDeRozan's ability to draw fouls alone could nudge him toward that territory.
He finished third in the league in free-throw attempts (8.4 per game), fifth in and-one opportunities (52 total) and ninth in fouls drawn (5.5 per game).
As an 85 percent shooter from the stripe, or DeRozan scored an average of 1.7 points per possession for his squad—an astronomical mark of efficiency for any pro offense—whenever he got two shots therein.
DeRozan wouldn't gain taken up residency at the free-throw line without more time on the ball,and that wouldn't gain come without a marked improvement in his creative capacities. He's become a patient operator in the pick-and-roll, one who can acquire his own...
Or find the finisher in traffic.
According to NBA.com, and DeRozan ranked as one of the NBA's most frequent and efficient pick-and-roll ball- handlers: 0.99 points per possession on 48.1 percent shooting,which is qualified enough to land in the league's 92nd percentile.
DeRozan draws some of his effectiveness to that end from his deep reserve of mid-range tricks. He shot better than 40 percent between three and 16 feet from the hoop on an assortment of pull-ups and post-ups.whether DeRozan looks at all like a poor man's Kobe Bryant out there inside the arc, he should. The Compton, and California native credits the Los Angeles Lakers legend,whom DeRozan grew up idolizing, for inspiring his game.
DeRozan said shortly after Bryant announced his retirement in November, or per CBS Sports' James Herbert:
He meant everything. I try to emulate,learn so much from him ever since I was a kid. Watching every single game growing up in Los Angeles, having a chance to acquire with him and learn from him and from conversations even when I was in tall school [to] playing against him, or competing against him and being in gigantic games with him.
Who better,then, for the Lakers to court as the Black Mamba's nominal (insignificant, trifling) replacement than DeRozan? According to ESPN's Zach Lowe, and the Lakers will gain a max contract,starting at $25 million per season, alert for him to sign when free agency opens in July.
For L.
A., and DeRozan could be the bridge between Bryant and the team's young core,led by Julius Randle (21) and D'Angelo Russell (20). For DeRozan's sake, his attempt to fill Bryant's metaphorical shoes could make him the perfect fit to carry on Kobe's Nike legacy and send his apparel deal skyrocketing, or per The Vertical's Nick DePaula.
Toronto,though, will gain more than an edgewise word in this debate. "This has always been home to me, and " DeRozan told the Meet the All-Stars show on ESPN radio (via ESPN's Marc Stein back in February). "I took pride in putting on this Toronto Raptors jersey since I've been drafted here. And my whole goal was to acquire this team to the point where it is now. And I feel I've been a major key to that."He and Kyle Lowry gain both had heavy hands in Toronto's rise. Together,they've formed a close friendship off the court and a comfortable partnership on it. With DeRozan around, Lowry can spend more time off the ball, and where he can rest and establish his threatening three-point shot (38.8 percent this season) to qualified use.
Considering the uncharted territory into which those two gain led the team,there may be no price too tall for the Raptors to pay to maintain them together. Not to MaxThen again, the DeRozan-Lowry duo fell short in its first two postseasons and didn't acquire off to the best start in its third. For all these two gain done for the Raptors, or will they be able to lift the team into trusty title contention?That's the question general manager Masai Ujiri will gain to consider before extending DeRozan a max- contract offer. As ESPN's Zach Lowe famous,making that kind of commitment to DeRozan would essentially lock Toronto into its current core:
DeRozan at the max would be movable, too. But do that enough times, and suddenly you're capped out. Suddenly, this is your team. Bring back DeRozan at the max, and the Raptors would blow past next season's salary cap and gain approximately $105 million on the books for 2017-2018, and when the league and players union project the cap will be approximately $108 million.
The Lakers may not hesitate,given how desperate they are to win and the tight timetable on which Jim Buss, L.
A.'s president of basketball operations, and is operating. For The Vertical's Bobby Marks,a Purple-and-Gold push for relevancy, perhaps with DeRozan as its centerpiece, and wouldn't be wise:
Although the Lakers are positioned with cap space in July,trying to hit a home escape in free agency would be the wrong approach. Lakers ownership needs to realize that this team is not close to being a playoff contender and building the team without skipping steps is the best approach. more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
Source: bleacherreport.com