KEY POINTS

  • A DeMar DeRozan reunion with the Raptors may happen
  • DeRozan could influence Kyle Lowry to stay in Toronto
  • DeRozan has seen significant improvement as part of the Spurs

The Toronto Raptors have decisions to make this offseason, including who to go after in free agency.

There are a lot of names Nick Nurse could go after, including an old name in the person of DeMar Derozan.

DeRozan is one of several NBA free agents that the Raptors may consider. The four-time All-Star started his career with the team, but his age should be a factor.

At 31, DeRozan somehow goes against the team’s initiative to invest in young talented players.

The Raptors could offer him a short-term contract, one that would keep him there for a couple of years.

Moreover, the move could also convince Kyle Lowry to stay on as a Raptor.

Most know how the DeRozan and Lowry-tandem worked. It was the familiar fixture until that 2018 trade that sent the 6-foot-6 swingman to the San Antonio Spurs and the Raptors took in Kawhi Leonard in return.

DeRozan is well-loved in Toronto. No less than Raptors superfan Nav Bhatia himself attested to it when he appeared on the Sports For All PH podcast in May.

DeMar DeRozan San Antonio Spurs
DeMar DeRozan #10 of the San Antonio Spurs in action against the Miami Heat during the first half of the preseason game at American Airlines Arena on October 08, 2019 in Miami, Florida. Mark Brown/Getty Images

Hence, Nurse and Raptors management will need to decide on whether it would be feasible to consider a reunion with DeRozan.

There were heartbreaks when he was traded to the Spurs, but all that has likely been mended.

DeRozan averaged 21.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 6.9 assists in 33.7 minutes of action with the Spurs last season.

These were better numbers compared to his nine seasons with the Raptors (19.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.1 assists).

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