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.”
Stephen A. Smith:
“DeMar DeRozan, I believe would have pulled off the same thing Kawhi Leonard did if LeBron wasn’t in the Eastern Conference that year.”
(via @FirstTake) pic.twitter.com/QDZitIhyv8
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) April 18, 2023
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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