As the Toronto Raptors attempt to work through some hurdles to bring Kawhi Leonard back, there is talk around the potential of another former star and fan favorite making a return.
DeMar DeRozan is a free agent after being waived by the Sacramento Kings on July 6, and according to Raptors reporter Doug Smith, both the player and the team are open to and have been considering a reunion.
“According to a source close to the beloved former Toronto all-star, DeRozan would welcome a Raptors return “if everything works out,” while other sources — also granted anonymity in order to speak freely on the subject — say the Raptors front office has been thinking about the possibility for some time,”
The 36-year-old DeRozan remained productive last season, averaging 18.4 points per game, 4.1 assists per game, and 2.9 rebounds per game in 77 games for the Kings.
Smith does go on to say that DeRozan signing in Toronto remains rather unlikely, with teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors, and Portland Trail Blazers as competition. However, the door is not entirely closed.
“It’s hard to see this happening. But the sides have spoken (directly and through back channels) and there’s still a lot of the summer to go, so it’s not an entirely dead issue,”
The Raptors still have a lot to figure out, with the NBA continuing its investigation into Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers. However, reports and the actions of the players involved in the trade itself suggest that everyone is operating as if it will ultimately go through.
What a fascinating story it would be to potentially see DeRozan and Leonard — who were, of course, traded for one another in 2018 — both make returns to Toronto to finish out their respective careers.
