It was recently reported that the Los Angeles Lakers would be in the business of trading for San Antonio Spurs DeMar DeRozan should the Spurs decide to blow everything up in an all-out rebuild. The Spurs obtained the services of DeRozan after trading Kawhi Leonard to Toronto, and he's put up his expected numbers for the Spurs, making the trade decent at best.
Just the same, having DeRozan as your sole franchise player doesn't accomplish much. The Spurs were made well aware of that this past season, seeing as how they didn't make it to the playoffs for the first time in 22 seasons. Their first run with DeRozan in 2018-19 as the chief playmaker resulted in a Game 7 loss to the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the 2019 playoffs.
That being said, the Lakers are without question looking for a third star to pair with Anthony Davis and LeBron James, but it shouldn't be DeRozan for a multitude of reasons.
1. Bulky Contract
DeRozan cashed in with the Toronto Raptors on a five-year, $139 million contract that is set to expire at the end of the NBA calendar. Before that can happen, however, DeRozan has a player option that he can exercise worth $27 million in 2020-21. Adding the All-NBA swingman could prove to be stressful in the long haul for the Lakers.
If the plan is to grab DeRozan for the meantime while making a push with James' time in the league surely coming to a close soon, then the move is reasonable. Still, DeRozan would be entering the final year of his contract, making him an unrestricted free agent afterwards. If his transition to L.A. ends up being a failure, the Lakers would've given up a young talent in Kuzma for practically nothing to show for it. While Kuzma didn't put his best foot forward for most of the season, his potential still remains exponential in terms of developing into at least an All-Star.
The Lakers of course shouldn't and won't move on granting Kuzma's wish on a hefty contract after having a lackluster season, but that doesn't mean they should throw him to the wolves for what could be a one-year rental.
2. Father Time
While some players enter their primes around their early 30's, DeRozan may have got to his a bit earlier than that. The four-time All-Star reached what could be considered to be his peak back in Toronto, and there's not much more that he'd be willing to add to his skillset this late in the game.
At 31, the question comes to pose in how much of an investment the Lakers should make in DeRozan with a skillset that will only decline with age. While the Lakers shouldn't be in the market for players in their early 20's, grabbing stars that are rounding the last lap of their career wouldn't make much sense either.
DeRozan made the most of his time with the Raptors and at this point is simply reciprocating off that former value based solely on his past performances. The Spurs have no real options besides him that are solidified as “stars,” which allows him a free range of motion on offense. The only other legitimate threat they possess is LaMarcus Aldridge, who's older than even DeRozan.
What's more to consider is that the Lakers have to plan for the future after James' retirement and Davis' ascension as the true leader of the team. Finding a younger star that can be paired with him for the future could be beneficial for the present as well.
3. Mismatch in Skillset
As previously mentioned, DeRozan's style of play simply won't cater to Davis or James. After watching the Lakers win their 17th title, one glare was made obvious that needed to be addressed: the assertion of signing more 3-point shooters. DeRozan is just the opposite of that, regardless of his star-like quality.
He's knocked down just 28 percent of his 3-pointers over the span of his career, which doesn't amount to any benefits for the Lakers beyond the perimeter. Unlike James, DeRozan has failed to develop a consistent outside shot, which will only hinder his performances as he gets older. Both players thrive on drives to the basket, which has worked out tremendously well for them. However, James was able to recognize that he couldn't depend on attacking the basket in his mid-30's.
DeRozan's style of play would collide with that of James, who makes most his runs by driving to the paint before either attacking with his extreme proficiency or kicking it to an open shooter, which DeRozan would likely prove useless at being. DeRozan's game also primarily consist of mid-range jumpers, which could collide with Davis on the perimeter as well. The Lakers should be on the lookout for actual outside shooters, a flaw that was made clear during the postseason. Adding DeRozan in his 30's and on one-year rental won't cater to that mission at all. If anything, it'll slow down their progress.
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