Lakers Rumors: DeMar DeRozan Wants To Play For L.A. Lakers In Next NBA Season
Lakers rumors have DeMar DeRozan showing a definite interest in Los Angeles. These L.A. Lakers rumors have odd timing, as the Toronto Raptors are still playing the Miami Heat in the 2016 NBA Playoffs. A report from NBC Sports states that DeRozan can opt out of his contract during the NBA offseason and become an unrestricted free agent. The site also quotes NBA analyst Stephen A. Smith, who spoke at length about what DeRozan plans on doing when the season is over for the Raptors.
“He’s made it very, very clear that he wants to be in L.A. He has family out there. He’s from out there. He wants to be in L.A. He wants to wear the purple and gold, and if there’s a way for it to happen, again he’s restricted, if there’s a way for it to happen, DeMar DeRozan will be in a Los Angeles Lakers uniform next season.”
While it should be noted that these L.A. Lakers rumors got one part wrong, as DeMar DeRozan is not a restricted free agent, it certainly creates interesting headlines during a time when the Toronto Raptors are focused on making it to the Eastern Conference Finals. In Game 5 of the Raptors vs. Heat series on Wednesday, May 11, DeRozan just scored 34 points and helped his team to a 3-2 series lead. With every other series already completed in the second round, DeRozan and the Raptors have the playoff stage to themselves for Game 6.
An earlier report from NBC Sports had the L.A. Lakers getting ready to offer DeMar DeRozan a max contract during the upcoming NBA offseason. That could still be the case, even though DeRozan has struggled a bit in the 2016 NBA Playoffs. If he can find a way to lead the Toronto Raptors past the Miami Heat and then play well against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the East Finals, DeRozan could guarantee that the max deal is on the table. Struggling could send the dollar amount in the opposite direction.
During the 2015-16 NBA season, DeMar DeRozan averaged 23.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.0 steals per game. He also averaged 35.9 minutes over his 78 games with the Toronto Raptors, making the Eastern Conference All-Star team a second time. In 12 playoff games for the Raptors, he is averaging 19.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. His field goal percentage has dipped to just 34.6, though, raising some questions about how much he is worth in that next contract.
While DeRozan could sign with any team in the offseason, it’s still possible that the Raptors could retain its star player. Although the L.A. Lakers rumors make sense about DeRozan wanting to return to California, further playoff success with the Raptors could convince him to stay in Canada. It may all come down to whether the Raptors can close out the series against the Heat and if the team can then make a real statement against the Cavs in the third-round of the NBA Playoffs. Anything less than that could lead to a quick ticket to Los Angeles.
The Lakers have a lot of money to spend in the NBA offseason, with the potential of two max contracts getting signed before the 2016-17 NBA season begins. DeMar DeRozan could join a roster that already has Julius Randle and D’Angelo Russell, but this could then mean that Jordan Clarkson won’t get a real contract offer unless he wants to come off the bench. By signing DeRozan, there could be more L.A. Lakers rumors linking the team to other big names about to become available. Adding someone else like Al Horford might just make the Lakers contenders in the short-term.
[Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images]
