NBA Free Agency 2016: Power Ranking Day 1 signings
By Mark Gunnels
. G. Toronto Raptors. DeMar DeRozan. 3. player. 81
In the midst of the Toronto Raptors historical playoff run, there were several rumors about DeMar DeRozan coming home this summer to play for the Los Angeles Lakers.
The noise was getting so loud to the point where Lakers fans were penciling DeRozan in as Kobe Bryant’s replacement.
Well, Lakers fans can go ahead and enjoy Timofey Mozgov for the time being because DeRozan is staying north of the border for at least the next five years.
Last night, the Raptors and DeRozan broke the internet as he agreed to a deal that will earn him roughly $29 million per season. At the time, the deal looked to be absurd, even though DeRozan is a two-time all-star.
Nonetheless, the Raptors actually saved a bit of cash.
The full max for DeRozan would’ve been $153 million, so the Raptors saved about $2.5 million in cap space going forward.
We’re not sure who Toronto will go after next, but the fact DeRozan was gracious enough to only take $139 million says a lot about his generosity (insert sarcasm).
As long as Kyle Lowry and DeRozan stick together, there’s no telling how far this team can go moving forward. Obviously, they’ll have the tall task of dethroning LeBron James in the east, but it’s not like it hasn’t been done before.
It just hasn’t been done for the past six years.
Next: 2. Andre Drummond stays in Detroit