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The San Antonio Spurs’ free-agent-to-be DeMar DeRozan is reportedly considering the LA Lakers as his team of choice when free agency begins on Aug. 3. The 13-year veteran is finally a free agent who can go to the team of his choosing.
DeMar DeRozan is one of the most consistent scorers the league has seen over the past decade. He has a career average of 20.1 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists a night. Over the past eight seasons, he has posted 20.1 points per game every season, but he hasn’t come close to winning a championship.
Based on his statements in interviews, DeRozan doesn’t appear to be interested in getting more money. Rather, he’s content with his earnings and is more inclined to make a decision based on what will further his career.
If this is the case, then there is no other place that DeMar DeRozan should go to other than Los Angeles next season.
Here are 3 reasons why DeMar DeRozan should do everything he can to bring his talents to the LA Lakers:
3. DeMar DeRozan can win a championship with the LA Lakers
The LA Lakers are a championship-caliber team with or without DeRozan. But there are holes in the Lakers’ roster that don’t necessarily make them title favorites next season.
This is where DeRozan comes in and plugs in those holes.
Throughout the 2020-21 season, the LA Lakers had been waiting for someone other than LeBron James and Anthony Davis to rescue them from their miseries by coming back healthy.
When the All-Star forwards returned from their respective injuries, the team didn’t have a player who became a reliable third star, although the opportunities were right there for the other players to step into that role.
With DeMar DeRozan on board, he immediately makes the LA Lakers the overwhelming favorites to bring home the Larry O’Brien Trophy as their third star.
If he were to join any other title contender, they will either reduce his contributions to the title run because of too many stars (i.e. the Brooklyn Nets) or he’s not going to be enough to land them the championship (i.e. the Philadelphia 76ers or LA Clippers).
Going to the LA Lakers makes DeRozan both a significant contributor and an almost guaranteed champion in the end with a triumvirate of stars that Los Angeles hasn’t seen in a long while.
2. DeMar DeRozan gets to play for his hometown
Going to the LA Lakers would be a dream come true for DeMar DeRozan because it allows him the opportunity to play in front of family and friends. The four-time All-Star was born and raised in Southern California, where he attended Compton High School and later played at USC during his lone collegiate season in 2008-09.
In an interview with Shannon Sharpe on the “Club Shay Shay” podcast, DeMar DeRozan spoke about his desire to return to his roots.
“You can’t ask a kid if they want to play at home (and think) they’ll say no,” DeRozan said. “At some point, you will definitely want to have that opportunity, and especially if they want you. Why not? It’s a great opportunity.”
For his dream to come true, DeRozan will have to take a huge pay cut to play for the LA Lakers. Based on recent rumors, it looks like he’s ready to do just that for the sake of coming home, but it’s up to him to make it happen.
1. Playing for the LA Lakers gives DeMar DeRozan the best of both worlds
Wearing an LA Lakers uniform presents DeMar DeRozan with a unique opportunity, one that was not possible earlier in his career and a few years ago. During the first half of his career, Kobe Bryant was playing the same position as he did on the Lakers so coming home to Los Angeles would not have been a good fit for him.
Once Bryant retired, the LA Lakers weren’t in shape to win the title and were not even a playoff team. Once LeBron and AD arrived in Tinseltown, the Lakers were in prime position to give him the best of both worlds—an opportunity to play at home and possibly win a title at the same time.
The LA Clippers would have been the other team to provide him with a shot to accomplish those two things, but the injury to Kawhi Leonard, which takes him out for essentially an entire season, disqualifies them from being relevant to DeRozan’s dreams coming true.
With DeMar DeRozan on the roster, the LA Lakers are getting a shot creator and playmaker all rolled into one. Last season, DeRozan evolved into a floor general and averaged a career-high 6.9 assists per game for the Spurs.
Though he still doesn’t solve their 3-point shooting problem, DeRozan is the answer to their lack of a playmaker to ease the burden off of James’ shoulders, and give the Lakers another creator.
Off the court, DeRozan will be closer to his basketball camp in Compton and other charity work that he does for the community. The fact that he can do these while competing for a title close by is such an excellent opportunity that he dare not pass up.
DeMar DeRozan has everything going for him if he were to wear the LA Lakers’ purple and gold. It’s time for him to come home and win that championship he has coveted for so long.
Also Read: NBA Trade Rumors: 5 key takeaways from the New Orleans Pelicans and Memphis Grizzlies deal
Guess the Lakers players!
