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DeMar DeRozan shatters Lakers fans’ hearts with revelation

Mike Luciano|
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 29: DeMar DeRozan #11 of the Chicago Bulls dribbles the ball during a NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2022 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 Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 29: DeMar DeRozan #11 of the Chicago Bulls dribbles the ball during a NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2022 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 Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

The Los Angeles Lakers are still trying to maneuver out from under the wreckage created by the Russell Westbrook trade, as it has made it almost impossible for them to add complimentary pieces around LeBron James. The Westbrook trade made it impossible to pursue DeMar DeRozan last offseason.

DeRozan has long been one of the most underrated players in the league, as he had the misfortune of playing in the league’s lone Canadian city and the small-market Spurs. That shouldn’t obscure his consistency. That scoring skill could have landed in LA if the Lakers didn’t pull off the Westbrook trade with Washington.

DeRozan said that he was “hellbent” on joining the Lakers in free agency on JJ Redick’s “Old Man and the Three” podcast, saying that he thought he was going to put pen to paper when he returned from vacation. He then got a call from Kyle Lowry, who informed him that LA decided to trade for Westbrook.

This prompted DeRozan to move to Chicago and lead the Bulls to the playoffs on a contract that has quickly become one of the league’s more affordable, given the value he provides. The impact of this Westbrook trade (more specifically, the moves LA couldn’t make as a result of the deal) is going to be felt for years to come.

The Los Angeles Lakers needed to get DeMar DeRozan.

Even after nine amazing seasons with the Toronto Raptors, DeRozan never averaged 27.9 points per game until his first All-NBA season in Chicago. That number obviously wouldn’t have been as high with the Lakers, but they would have had a legitimate No. 3 scoring option on the perimeter.

DeRozan is LA born and bred and a USC alum. You couldn’t have written someone more willing to return to his hometown and chase a championship. The greed of Rob Pelinka, and the shortsightedness to not see the fact Westbrook didn’t mesh well with James, spoiled this homecoming.

Those claiming that DeRozan producing like he did in Chicago was an anomaly don’t have much of a leg to stand on. An elite scorer who will have his jersey number retired in Toronto that struggled amid a rebuild in San Antonio, DeRozan would have thrived in the right situation.

Imagine letting DeMar cook as the second unit chief instead of watching their trade bait point guard brick 15-footers.

DeRozan would not have solved the Lakers’ problems from a structural point of view, but he certainly would have gone a long way to fixing some of the issues that plagued this team in 2021-22.

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