As one of the top free agents on the market this offseason, DeMar DeRozan could have gone to any team interested in signing him. He had dreams of donning the Purple and Gold but, in the end, the Lakers never capitalized on the opportunity to sign him.
“Yeah, you just learn how to deal with it from a business standpoint,” said DeRozan on FanDuel TV . “Obviously I have my selfish reasons of wanting to be able to play at home, (but) sometimes it just doesn’t work out that way. And sometimes it probably isn’t the best decision for me either. So after that didn’t happen, I didn’t dwell on it. I wasn’t mad. They made their choice, and I just left it at that... I thought I would end up with the Lakers but after the last time, the last situation, you really don’t get your hopes all the way up. I think the first time before I went to Chicago (in 2021), that was the closest it had been. And even for me, I thought it was going to be that. But when that didn’t happen, I didn’t have high hopes because you already see how it could play out.”
DeMar DeRozan was initially drafted by the Raptors in 2009. He played for 9 seasons with the franchise, averaging 19.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game on 44.8% shooting. He was traded for Kawhi Leonard in the summer of 2018 where he'd move to the Spurs before a stint with the Chicago Bulls .
This summer, with the 35-year-old swingman up for grabs, the Sacramento Kings made a move and they ended up signing him in a sign-and-trade with the Bulls. Set to join forces with De'Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis, and Keegan Murray, DeRozan has a chance to pull off something special with the Kings.
It could have been the Lakers instead had they been willing to make a move at any point leading up to the trade. It's no secret that the Lakers were atop DeRozan's wishlist and he might have signed with them on a discount in order to join forces with LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Instead, when the Lakers finally came around with an offer for DeRozan , it was already too late.
With averages of 24.0 points and 5.3 assists per game on 48% shooting last season, DeMar would have been a fine addition to the frontcourt and he would have helped add some depth and versatility to an aging roster.
Of course, with limited assets available, the Lakers are only going to sign guys they are sure about and it seems they were not convinced that DeRozan would move the needle for them in any significant way
Instead, the Lakers are poised to run it back with the same crew as last year, the one that got them knocked out in the first round of the playoffs. Unless something changes for them, it's hard to see a much better result this time around.
As for DeMar, it's a shame what happened to his career given his level of talent but it's not too late for him to make a run and cement his place in history as a champion. If he can turn back the clock this season and give the Kings everything he has, it could open the door for a shocking upset this year and validate their risky pursuit of the 15-year veteran.
Related: DeMar DeRozan Believes He Would Have Won A Title With The Raptors If They Never Traded For Kawhi Leonard
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