Stephen A. Smith Believes DeMar DeRozan Would Have Won With The Raptors In 2019 Like Kawhi Leonard Without LeBron James In The East

Stephen A. Smith believes DeMar DeRozan could have led the 2019 Toronto Raptors to the title if they didn't trade him for Kawhi Leonard.

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The Toronto Raptors won the only championship in their team’s history in 2019 with Kawhi Leonard leading them to the title instead of franchise icon DeMar DeRozan.

DeRozan’s Raptors lost to the LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers for 4 consecutive seasons but won the title with Kawhi when James moved to the Lakers. Stephen A. Smith believes Toronto would have won the title even if they kept DeMar.

“DeMar DeRozan, I believe would have pulled off the same thing Kawhi Leonard did if LeBron wasn’t in the Eastern Conference that year.” 

The Raptors traded DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl, and a first-round pick to acquire Kawhi Leonard, who was on an expiring contract that season. He won the title with Toronto and signed with the Clippers in free agency, making it one of the most successful one-year rentals we’ve seen in NBA history.


Could DeMar DeRozan Have Won With The Raptors In 2019?

Even though Kawhi and DeMar are both wings, they do not have similar play styles. Both are mid-range assassins, but that is where the similarities end. Kawhi is a more consistent 3-point shooter and one of the best defensive wings of his generation. DeRozan’s inside game may be superior but the Raptors with Kawhi played a different brand of basketball.

There’s no guarantee that DeRozan would have been able to lead the Raptors to a win when they went to Game 7 with the Philadelphia 76ers. Toronto’s defensive strength helped them through the playoffs and that might not have been the case if DeRozan was the primary wing. 

Kawhi unlocked a new dimension for the Raptors and is one of the best players of his generation. Even though Kawhi left after just one season, Toronto would do that trade 10/10 times, even if DeRozan was a franchise legend. 

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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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