After a banner contract season, DeMar DeRozan has agreed to re-sign with the Toronto Raptors. DeRozan will sign to a five-year deal that could be worth as much as $145 million, according to ESPN's Marc Spears. That's slightly below his projected $153 million maximum. The All-Star guard was the top wing scorer on the market, but it was obvious from the jump that he wanted to stay with the Raptors.
DeRozan helped lead the Raptors to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history, where they were eliminated by the Cleveland Cavaliers in six games. After that series ended, DeRozan said he planned to be back with the Raptors in 2016-17 and beyond.
Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri wanted to keep his All-Star north of the border, too. "Our No. 1 goal is to bring DeMar back here," Ujiri said in May. "We feel great that he wants to come back to our organization."
Both followed their promise. DeRozan opted out of his contract on June 14 to become an unrestricted free agent. He did not take any other free-agent meetings and quickly returned to Toronto.
DeRozan's seventh season in the NBA was his best. He averaged 23.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game as the Raptors had their best season in franchise history. However, DeRozan struggled in the playoffs. After shooting 44.6 percent from the field during the regular season, he made only 39.4 percent of his shots in the postseason and was a miserable 15 percent shooter from behind the arc. Nonetheless, the Raptors were still able to get past the Indiana Pacers and Miami Heat before being eliminated by the Cavaliers.
While he's not the greatest shooter, DeRozan's ability to drive and score in the lane is what makes him a special player. When he's at his best, he can take on superb defenders and hit difficult shots in the lane.
He has struggled in the playoffs, however, when defenses tighten and put a stranglehold on isolation basketball. For DeRozan, a more proficient shot from deep could make his game that much more dangerous. He improved from a 25 percent shooter from deep in his rookie season to a 33.8 percent shooter last season, but if he bumps that closer to 40 percent, a defender will have even more trouble guarding the All-Star.
A change in offensive styles from a team perspective may help DeRozan, too. The Raptors relied heavily on he and Kyle Lowry to carry the offensive load in isolation-heavy sets, and it eventually wasn't enough -- even the Cavaliers, with two of the best isolation players in the league in Kyrie Irving and LeBron James scorched the East because of their ball movement and three-point shooting.
DeRozan's hometown Los Angeles Lakers were always looming as a landing spot for him, but he quickly warded them off to return to the Raptors. Instead, he will stay with Lowry and help Toronto build on its best season ever.