LaMarcus Aldridge was always a pipe dream. So too were Marc Gasol, Kevin Love, Jimmy Butler, DeAndre Jordan, and a host of other marquee name free agents available this summer. But DeMarre Carroll? That just makes sense.
Entering the off-season with a glaring need at the small forward position and coming off a 2014-15 campaign that ‘showcased’ the Raptors woeful defense, Carroll should make for a terrific fit in Dwane Casey’s starting lineup.
His four-year, $60-million contract may seem a bit steep, but keeping in mind the context of today’s NBA salaries, which are proliferating faster than the Big Bang, Carroll’s contract is actually fair for someone projected to be a very good two-way player.
But (inserts pipe into mouth, does Freud impression) who is DeMarre Carroll? Here’s what you need to know about the newest Raptor:
We The Norris:
Step aside, Chuck. There’s a new ranger in town. That’s because some of the stories (read: fan fiction) surrounding Carroll is flat-out Chuck Norrisian. As Carroll put it himself, after particularly physical game versus the Indiana Pacers: “If you see me in a fight with a bear, you’d better help that bear.”
In college his nickname was Junkyard Dog. So there’s that, too.
If you want to know what Carroll brings to the table, this quote from his high school coach says it all:
“DeMarre set the table very quickly when he came over,” Marty Smith said. “If a loose ball was on the floor, DeMarre Carroll was going after it. If that rebound was up on the glass, DeMarre Carroll was going to come down with it. His work ethic and his desire to succeed is what really stands out to me. I can’t take credit for that. That’s a DeMarre thing.
The Pedigree:
Apart from playing a pivotal role for the first place Atlanta Hawks last season, Carroll has a history of success through basketball dating back to high school, where he was a two-time state champion at John Carroll (…no relation) Catholic High School in Birmingham, Ala., leading the team to a perfect 36-0 record as a junior. As a senior, his made free throw with 6.8 seconds left on the clock won his team the championship.
As a senior at Missouri, he led the Mizzou to the Elite Eight in 2009, the same year he was named first-team all-conference.
The Hard Road:
Carroll’s journey to becoming a coveted free agent and soon-to-be owner of a substantial contract is pretty remarkable. This AL.com profile goes into a fair bit of detail, but essentially a big reason why Carroll plays with such a chip on his shoulder is because, like others with a similar demeanor, he’s had to fight for his spot in the NBA.
Carroll was drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies with the 27th pick in 2009, but couldn’t escape the bench. Stops in the D-League, along with the Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets were futile, yet in limited minutes he began to turn heads in his one season with the Utah Jazz in 2012-13. That was enough for Atlanta to give him a shot, where his defense kept him on the court.
That said, he’s developed into an effective offensive player as well, with Per 36 averages of 14.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.5 steals while shooting 49 percent from the field and 40 percent on three-pointers. A potential 3-and-D guy with the athleticism to get to the hoop. Again, everything the Raptors sorely needed.
Big Game Hunter:
Carroll showed his propensity for coming up big when it matters most throughout last season, particularly in the playoffs when he increased his scoring average by five points to 17.1 per game during the first two rounds. Despite growing a reputation as a player capable of defending someone like LeBron James, a knee injury slowed him in the Eastern Conference Finals, forcing him to leave game one after spraining it. Despite concerns that it would sideline him long-term, he was back to start game two.
Said teammate Mike Muscala when he went down: “He’s a great player, but most importantly, a great guy and a great teammate. Obviously it was really tough to see him go down. We want to be there for him, and hope for the best.”
But wait, there’s more
DeMarre knows his way around a dune buggy, in case you were wondering:
Also, not to belabor the point but this piece of fan art posted on Carroll’s Instagram page paints yet another picture of the kind of player the Raptors just brought into the fold:
