FanPost

Should the Raptors Consider Trading DeRozan?

This is a very important offseason for the Toronto Raptors; quite possibly, the most important summer in franchise history. The team has a number of key free agents including Kyle Lowry and Serge Ibaka. There are a number of decisions to be made, which all start next week with the NBA Draft.

Assuming the Raptors pick up the options for Norman Powell and Fred VanVleet, the team has approximately $79 million in guaranteed salaries next season. There is also a $1.6 million cap hold for this year’s first round draft pick. The salary cap is projected to go up to $101 million next season, with a luxury tax threshold of $121 million. If the team retains both Lowry and Ibaka, it would eliminate all financial flexibility and put the team in the luxury tax threshold. Therefore, unless a trade is made, it is unlikely that Patrick Patterson or PJ Tucker will be back next season.

The focus so far this offseason has been on Lowry. Does the team want to commit a max contract to a 31 year old, 6 foot point guard, coming off an injury, who disappears in the playoffs?

Small guards tend to decline after 30. However, Lowry was a late bloomer and has proven to be a hard worker. He was the best guard in the Eastern Conference last season before his injury. Simply walking away because of his age is hard to justify.

If the Raptors decide not to bring back Lowry, they do not have the cap space to sign anyone of his caliber to replace him.

The Raptors took a step back last season, getting swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers. A pair of mid-season trades acquiring Ibaka and Tucker was supposed to bridge the gap. But after this year’s playoffs it is clear that LeBron James still owns the Eastern Conference.

A number of pundits have discussed trading DeMarre Carroll or Jonas Valanciunas in order to avoid the luxury tax. Neither player is going to bring back significant assets in return. It may even require attaching a first round pick in order to have someone agree to take the last 2 year of Carroll’s contract.

The best option may be the one that no one wants to discuss, trade DeMar DeRozan.

Last summer DeRozan resigned with the Raptors for $139 million over 5 years. He did not meet with any other teams. He gave Toronto a discount. He was eligible to sign for $153 million. DeRozan has proclaimed his love for this franchise and this City. Last summer he went as far as to say "I am Toronto".

Skeptics questioned whether resigning DeRozan was a wise idea. He does not fit the modern NBA, which is predicated on spacing and 3-point shooting. DeRozan gets his points primarily on mid-range shots and at the free throw line. However, DeRozan did not disappoint last season. He was fifth in the league in scoring at 27.3 ppg and was named to the All-NBA Third Team. DeRozan is 27 years old, 28 next season, and right in the middle of his prime. He has improved every season he has been in the league and will continue to put the time in to further develop his game.

So why would the Raptors consider trading DeRozan?

A team led by Lowry and DeRozan is not winning an NBA Championship. DeRozan is younger, but harder to build around. Lowry is capable of running of the offence or playing off the ball. He is the team’s best 3-point shooter and like DeRozan a 3-time All-Star.

Given DeRozan’s limitations, it might be difficult to get equal value in a trade. But one team might be in the perfect position to add DeRozan.

Last summer DeRozan was linked to his hometown, Los Angeles Lakers. Kobe Bryant was retiring and everyone assumed DeRozan would return to LA to replace him as the face of the franchise. DeRozan spurned the Lakers and returned to Toronto. Instead the Lakers used their cap space to sign Luol Deng and Timofey Mozgov, to questionable long-term contracts.

Now the Lakers have turned their attention to Paul George, who can become a free agent next summer and has been rumored to want to return home to California.

The Lakers have a number of intriguing young players, including Brandon Ingram, Julius Randle and D’Angelo Russel. They also have the number 2 pick in this year’s draft.

George just turned 27 and wants to compete for a championship. The Lakers have enough cap space to sign George outright, assuming they don’t add any significant long term salaries this summer. But George would likely prefer playing with some established players who can help him win now; instead of waiting for the young guys to develop.

For the Lakers, trading Deng or Mozgov won’t be possible without attaching another asset. The Lakers will send their 2018 first round pick to Philadelphia. This pick is unprotected and will be conveyed no matter what. Teams are not able to trade first round picks in consecutive years. Therefore, the Lakers could only attach their 2020 first rounder in order to shed some salary.

The other option is to attach Deng or Mozgov to one of the Lakers’ young assets.

A trade of DeRozan for Russell, Randle and Deng works financially and would make sense for both teams.

DeRozan gives the Lakers another All-Star to entice George to sign in LA. A starting lineup of Lonzo Ball, DeRozan, Ingram, George and Ivica Zubac is good enough to make the playoffs. The Lakers retain Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr, as well as the number 28 overall pick in this year’s draft to bring off the bench.

For the Raptors, Russell has enough size to play off the ball. He can share ball handling duties with Lowry. At this point in his career, Ibaka is likely better at centre than power forward. Randle with play the four spot, with Deng at the other forward position. This would also give the Raptors significant depth at all five positions.

Neither Randle nor Russell is equal to DeRozan at this point in their careers, but both are younger and better fit today’s game. Randle has an encouraging combination of size and quickness. He looks the part of a modern big man, but needs to work on his outside shot. Russell is 21 years and has shown All-Star potential. He is a good shooter and averaged 18.5 points per game after the All-Star break last season. However, his average athleticism likely prevents him from becoming a true superstar.

With this trade the Raptors, should still be a top 4 team in the east and continue to build for the future. Maybe Masai can even convince the Lakers to take back Carroll to help avoid the luxury tax and provide flexibility for next summer when the team will have a number of restricted free agents. Given the financial restrictions management must get creative in order to improve this team and make sure the Raptors don’t get stuck on the mediocrity treadmill.