Nando De Colo (Photo : Twitter)
DeMar DeRozan (Photo : Kevin C. Cox | Getty Images Sport)
The NBA rumors abound for free agent- to-be DeMar DeRozan of the Toronto Raptors in the midst of a drawn out seven game battle with the Miami Heat.
There are rumors swirling that the former All-Star guard wants to move back home to the West Coast, specifically the LA Lakers. This claim was made by Stephen A. Smith of First Take (h/t Lakers Nation for the quote).
"He's made it very, very clear that he wants to be in L.A.," Smith said of DeRozan's intentions in free agency. "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."
DeRozan is not a restricted free agent as Smith stated. He is unrestricted so there is really no impediment for him if he wants to go to the Lakers.
This is bad news for the Raptors who are working hard to go deep into the playoffs. This is the first time for them to move past the first round since 2001, and it would hurt if they lose their top scorer.
Team site Raptors Rapture wants to reassure their fans that they already have plan B in case DeRozan bolts. This does not involve signing Kevin Durant or any other free agent in the NBA now. Brian Boake named Nando de Colo, a Raptors player from 2013-14.
DeColo decided to return to Europe rather than play limited minutes and recently, he was the Euroleague's top scorer and MVP. He may have proved himself worthy of a bigger role.
Boake believes that de Colo would return to the NBA for a megabucks deal and also to prove his worth. He is not as athletic nor as prolific of a scorer like DeRozan but he brings something different to the table.
"Nando is particularly interesting because he's a legitimate combo guard. He could step into DeMar's shoes at shooting guard, or be a lot more than a stopgap at the point if Kyle Lowry or Cory Joseph are out of commission."
The Raptors do not have much cap space even with the jump to $ 92 million. Center-forward Bismack Biyombo has had a great series and the Raptors would definitely need to spend big in order to keep him. With their cap space hampered by long-term deals to Jonas Valanciunas and Terrence Ross, the Raptors may not be able to offer the max to DeRozan-something the Lakers are reportedly willing to do.
