As it turns out, the Toronto Raptors may really end up bringing DeMar DeRozan back to finish his career in the North after all. Following his waiver by the Sacramento Kings earlier this week, DeRozan is reportedly weighing his options, with a reunion in Toronto appearing more likely than ever.
According to multiple reports, DeRozan is interested in returning to the Raptors on a veteran minimum deal. He even fueled the speculation by liking an Instagram post about a potential return to Toronto in the days following the Kawhi Leonard trade.
However, not everyone is on board with DeRozan returning to Toronto, especially Drake’s inner circle. After reports that DeRozan was interested in rejoining the Raptors, @6ixBuzzTV posted about the rumored reunion, prompting the Toronto rapper’s close associates to share their thoughts.
Chubbs, one of Drake’s closest confidants and a longtime member of the OVO crew, responded with a thumbs-down emoji in the comments. Meanwhile, Drake’s longtime friend and rapper Preme, also known as P Reign, wrote,
“No LA teams wants him?,” seemingly referencing DeRozan’s Compton roots and his ties to Drake’s longtime rival, Kendrick Lamar.
DeRozan and Drake were once close friends, but their relationship reportedly fell apart in 2024 after DeRozan appeared on stage with Lamar during “The Pop Out” concert. Lamar later performed “Not Like Us,” the viral diss track aimed at Drake during their months-long rap feud. Drake even went as far as saying,
“If the Raptors ever retire DeMar DeRozan’s jersey, I’ll go up there and pull it down myself.”
Could a DeMar DeRozan reunion make sense for the Toronto Raptors?
With the Raptors carrying a payroll of $197.4 million and still having three roster spots to fill, it’s more than just a possibility at this point.
There are only a few players who can still make Raptors fans stop scrolling through their news feeds quite like DeRozan. Years after the blockbuster trade that sent the former ninth overall pick to the San Antonio Spurs, No. 10 jerseys are still a common sight across Toronto.
DeRozan would provide a significant boost to Toronto’s second unit if the team were to bring him back, as he remains a productive player at this stage of his career. In 77 games with the Sacramento Kings last season, he averaged 21.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game.
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