The big news in the NBA has been anticipated for the last two years.
However, this time, it's official: After 20 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant will retire from the NBA.
Now, the LA Lakers will have to find someone to replace what the Black Mamba has given them for so long. It will not be an easy task, but there are already some players who want to take on the challenge.
DeMar DeRozan is literally "Straight Outta Compton" and went to college in the University of Southern California. He admits that he idolizes the Mamba and he even wears Kobe Bryant's shoes in his games.
The Toronto Raptors do value DeMar DeRozan as he is their next-best scorer after Kyle Lowry's explosive start to the season, but the projected max salary for him would not sit well with Raptors GM Masai Ujiri, especially since they believe they have a legitimate shot at Kevin Durant.
The figures are astounding for DeRozan, and as stated by the Toronto Sun's Ryan Wolstat, "DeMar DeRozan's camp will be after the new mid-max (a whopping $25.3 million) a year from now and there is no way the Raptors will be comfortable footing that bid."
It would be uncharacteristic for Ujiri to lose DeRozan for nothing, since most teams could just sign him. But Ujiri could pull something, as DeRozan is still their best asset according to Dan Favale of Bleacher Report.
What could they get from the Lakers? For one thing, the Lakers top asset is Jordan Clarkson. Clarkson is young and cheap, but he will also due for a salary spike. Still, it would be a far cry from DeRozan's take.
The Lakers drafted D'Angelo Russell to be their point guard of the future, and they would rather have DeRozan-who could be the Kobe heir apparent, over Clarkson.
This trade proposal is predicated on the assumption that the Raptors are pursuing Kevin Durant and the Lakers don't see themselves as a realistic candidate (hence, acquiring DeRozan). The Lakers could send Clarkson and Roy Hibbert's expiring contract in exchange for DeRozan and other cap-consumers like Bismack Biyombo and Lucas Noguiera.
Since they are helping out the Raptors, the Lakers can get a first round pick, either Toronto's own or the worse pick between the Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks (which the Raptors acquired).
The Raptors get a young, rising combo guard (Clarkson) who can play alongside Kyle Lowry and Cory Joseph and they also free up their cap for Durant. The Lakers get a first round pick in exchange for Clarkson and possibly lock up their replacement for Kobe Bryant.