NBA Rumors: Los Angeles Lakers Signing DeMar DeRozan From Toronto Raptors

NBA rumors have been swirling around DeMar DeRozan. Right now, the Toronto Raptors are engaged in a playoff series with the Indiana Pacers. Toronto is leading the series with a 3-2 advantage. Things are looking good for the team right now, but there could be problems coming soon. DeRozan could become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. Several teams will be interested in signing the All Star. According to Lakers Nation, the Los Angeles Lakers will be one of the teams going after the former USC Trojans star.

The Los Angeles Lakers will be in need of a superstar to replace a retired Kobe Bryant. DeMar DeRozan has shown potential that he is a star player in the NBA. He has improved each season since coming into the league. This season, he is averaging 23.5 points, four assists, and 4.5 rebounds. DeRozan joining Los Angeles isn’t as far fetched as you would think. Before being drafted by the Toronto Raptors, he played high school and college basketball in the state of California. The Lakers will have enough salary cap space to offer three players the maximum contract.

This season, DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry led the the Toronto Raptors to the second-best record in the Eastern Conference. DeRozan led the team in scoring. The Raptors have one of the best back court in the entire NBA. Two seasons ago, Toronto resigned Lowry to a four-year deal worth $48 million. This summer, DeRozan will be the team’s top priority.

Last summer, the Toronto Raptors signed DeMarre Carroll to a four-year deal worth $60 million. Last season with the Atlanta Hawks, Carroll saw his stock rise due to his play with the team. He emerged as one of the NBA’s best 3-and-D perimeter players. The Raptors thought he could propel them into being one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. The team did end up with the second-best record in the east. Carroll only played in 26 games during the regular season.

The Los Angeles Lakers will need a star player like DeMar DeRozan to come lead their young players. The team has D’Angelo Russell, Julius Randle, and Jordan Clarkson as their building blocks. Clarkson is currently a restricted free agent. The Lakers will have the option to match any offer for their young point guard. He was a second-round selection. In Clarkson’s rookie season, he averaged 11.9 points, 3.5 assists, and 3.2 rebounds in 59 games. This season, he averaged 15.5 points, 2.4 assists, and four rebounds.

During the 2014 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Lakers selected Julius Randle with seventh pick. His rookie season, he broke his right tibia in the season opener. Randle came back this season showing flashes of his potential. He became the youngest Lakers player since Magic Johnson to get a triple double. This season, he averaged 11.3 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game.

Last summer, the Los Angeles Lakers selected D’Angelo Russell with the second overall selection in the 2015 NBA Draft. The main concerns about Russell were that he is a raw shooting talent and is immature. The Lakers still believed they found a star in the making. Russell’s rookie year was a roller coaster ride until after the All-Star break. He caught fire and showed his true potential. After the All-Star break, he averaged 16 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists.

DeMar DeRozan will be one of the most sought out free agents this upcoming summer. The Los Angeles Lakers signing the former USC Trojans star would be a big win for the franchise after two horrible seasons.

[Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images]