Note: This is the first of 10 previews of Toronto Raptor players as we head into the 2012-13 NBA season.
Birthplace: Compton, California
Born: August 7, 1989 (age 23)
College: USC
Height: 6’7″
Weight: 216 lbs.
How he became a Raptor: 2009 NBA Draft, 9th overall
| By the numbers | ||||||
| PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | FG% | FT% | |
| 2011-12 season | 16.7 | 3.3 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 42.2% | 81% |
| Career (Three seasons) | 14.1 | 3.4 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 45.7% | 80.2% |
| Full DeMar Derozan bio | ||||||
To say that this is a big season for Demar DeRozan is an understatement.
The Toronto Raptors have until Oct. 31 to negotiate a new contract with DeRozan but if the two sides fail to reach an agreement by Halloween, the small forward will become a restricted free agent next summer.
All signs point to the Raptors front office being willing to let the fourth-year player test the market over the offseason so DeRozan will need a big winter in order to cash in.
DeRozan’s field goal percentage has slowly crept south over his first three seasons in the league, reaching an all-time low of .261 last season when he averaged 16.7 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. Decent numbers for sure, but when you factor in his .261 field goal percentage from long range, which was a career-best, those aren’t terrific numbers from your starting shooting guard. Especially on a team that was desperate for outside shooting.
DeRozan says that last season was more difficult than most with a condensed training camp and schedule and with a new coaching staff instilling new systems at both ends of the floor.
“A lot of people don’t understand that last year was definitely tough, coming in with a new coaching staff and the lockout, not having time to understand the new offence, new defence,” DeRozan recently told the National Post. “That played a critical part in us beginning the season as we did.
“We played two pre-season games, had a shortened training camp, with a shortened season and limited time to practice, we had to learn so much in so little time. It got frustrating at times. A lot of people were uncomfortable. Now, to have it the other way around, it feels good.”
Listen now:DeMar DeRozan with Eric Smith
The Raptors drafted Terrence Ross and signed Landry Fields this offseason, a pair of wing players that could help replace DeRozan should he be allowed to walk next summer.
That is, of course, looking a little far ahead as we have yet to tip off a game this season.
Despite entering his fourth season, DeRozan is still only 23-years old, leaving plenty of time for him to continue to expand his game.
The Los Angeles native spent part of his summer with the United States Select Team which battled the American Olympic team as it prepared for the London 2012 Games. DeRozan said last spring that one of his main goals over this summer was to get better defensively and he believes the pre-Olympic challenge paid off.
“I think it was the best experience for me this summer,” he explained on media day. “Every morning going against Kobe (Bryant), Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony. Going against them in every situation that you could think of. Just seeing how they approach every aspect of the game, definitely showed me a lot.”
The shooting guard has known many of the Olympians for a long time and talked to them about what they see in his game and a few things he could work on to keep improving.
“They were really helpful,” he said.
Heading into the season, DeRozan will likely start at shooting guard and could have as many as three new players line up around him when the season tips off on Halloween against the Indiana Pacers.
With the Raptors having missed the playoffs in each of his three seasons in Toronto, DeRozan said he could feel the drive from the squad in the gym as the players scrimmaged in the days leading up to training camp.
“We’ve got a lot of players on this team that are hungry to make the playoffs and I think we’ve got a big shot this year,” he said.
DeRozan believes that he is ready to take his game to the next level this season and was pretty confident with his answer when he was asked if he would be an all-star this season.
“Without a doubt,” DeRozan said. “Going against (the U.S. Olympic team) this summer really challenged me to try to get there this season.”
If DeRozan is able to take his game to that level this season, the Raptors are going to regret not locking him up to a new contract this fall.
Twitter handle: @DeMar_DeRozan
Sample tweet:
Lights get low & thats when I have my brightest ideas…
— DeMar DeRozan (@DeMar_DeRozan) September 21, 2012
