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Why the Los Angeles Lakers definitely aren’t signing DeMar DeRozan

By Jason Reed

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 26: DeMar DeRozan #10 of the San Antonio Spurs dribbles the ball against Russell Westbrook #4 of the Washington Wizards in the second half at Capital One Arena on April 26, 2021 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 26: DeMar DeRozan #10 of the San Antonio Spurs dribbles the ball against Russell Westbrook #4 of the Washington Wizards in the second half at Capital One Arena on April 26, 2021 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

2. DeMar DeRozan doesn’t make that much sense for the Los Angeles Lakers anymore

Before the Los Angeles Lakers traded for Russell Westbrook it did make sense for the team to go after DeMar DeRozan. The most exciting thing about DeRozan is that he is a ball-handling two guard that does not demand the ball like a point guard but can help LeBron James create.

The Lakers already got their co-creator in Russell Westbrook, who is going to take a lot of the playmaking burden off of LeBron in the regular season. There are some potential problems they are going to have to iron out in the playoffs, but in the regular season, this will make the team better and make LeBron’s life easier.

There really is no place for DeRozan with Westbrook. The Lakers would be taking away the things he is good at and asking him to do things he is bad at, which is not only bad for DeRozan but is bad for the Lakers as well.

DeRozan is not a good three-point shooter, at all. He shot 25.7% from beyond the arc last season and is a career 28.1% shooter from three. The Lakers need shooters around their big three or else the floor spacing is just going to be atrocious.

DeRozan would make it atrocious. Nobody is going to respect him from three, will sag off of him as an off-ball target and it will only clog the lane, which is exactly the thing you don’t want to happen when you have Westbrook or LeBron, let alone both.

The playmaking and shot-creating chances are going to be much lower and the off-ball shooting opportunities are going to be much higher. It makes much more sense for the Lakers to just get an off-ball sharpshooting two-guard than it does to go after DeRozan.

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Is DeMar DeRozan really going to take 10% of what he can possibly get this offseason to go play on a team that he is a bad fit on, only hurting his value more? Probably not. There are plenty of contenders he can ring chase with.

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