Citing LeBron James trade, DeMar DeRozan boldly asserts Raptors could've won NBA title without 2x Finals MVP
For years, DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry were a dynamic duo that many Raptors fans believed would be together for many more seasons to come. Despite that, in 2018, DeRozan was abruptly traded to the San Antonio Spurs in a blockbuster deal sending Kawhi Leonard to the Raptors to play alongside Lowry in pursuit of a title.
The trade blindsided DeRozan, who had previously been told by Toronto's front office that he wasn't on the trade block. Now, looking back on the trade, DeRozan explained on Wednesday's episode of First Take:
[00:30] "I definitely feel like the only person we couldn't beat was LeBron. That's just what it was. And I felt off the year we had before, we just needed one more piece that kind of push us over the top, and that piece came to be LeBron going to the west.
"And I didn't get an opportunity to see what would have happened. But the utmost confidence within myself, I have no doubt in my mind the same outcome would have happened."
Of course, at the time, there had also been talk of DeRozan joining forces with LeBron James in LA instead of Anthony Davis. As DeRozan said on First Take, he also toyed with the idea of joining LA before signing with the Sacramento Kings this summer.
DeMar DeRozan opens up on this summer's free agency and his decision to join the Kings rather than the LA Lakers
Back in 2021, DeMar DeRozan nearly wound up joining LeBron James and Anthony Davis on the LA Lakers before joining the Chicago Bulls. As he explained on an episode of JJ Redick's Old Man & The Three podcast in 2022, before LA acquiring Russell Westbrook, DeRozan believed he was set to return home.
As an LA native who once had a close relationship with Kobe Bryant, the chance to play for his hometown had DeRozan excited. Despite that, the team acquired Westbrook.
Ultimately, he joined the Bulls, where he has since played some of his best basketball, averaging a career-high 27.9 points per game during his first year with the team. Then, this offseason, after playing out his contract with Chicago, DeMar DeRozan was left with a decision.
He explained his situation on Paul George's Podcast P this week.
[35:00] “I was thinking about Philly. Philly definitely was an option. Lakers was an option, always. Clippers was an option, and the Heat was an option. I’d say those teams, for sure, were the real, legitimate options for me that I was considering.”
Now, DeMar DeRozan will look to elevate the Sacramento Kings as the team looks to make it out of the first round of the playoffs for the first time since the 2004 season.