There is no denying that the San Antonio Spurs are struggling this year as they hold an abysmal 12-18 record. When you take a team with elite-level talent on it, trade rumors start to pick up more and more heavily.
A hot name that has been flying around the league since the season started is veteran guard Demar DeRozan. DeRozan, who was traded in the Kawhi Leonard deal back in the summer of 2018 from the Toronto Raptors, is now seeing himself yet again on the trade block.
DeRozan is averaging 20.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.9 assists on 51 percent from the field and 26 percent from three. The last time DeRozan was almost under 20 points scoring in a season was back in the 2012-2013 season. With the team struggling and the veteran guard having a down yet proficient year for the team, it seems very likely that the guard might be wearing new colors before the trade deadline.
There are many teams that have shown interest in the veteran, but not all of the teams have the resources to obtain the shooting guard. Teams such as the Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Charlotte Hornets, Toronto Raptors, and the New York Knicks have all been connected to obtaining Demar DeRozan.
The Detroit Pistons are also struggling this season, posting a 12-20 record. The Pistons have a formidable frontcourt in Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond, but what they lack is a scoring option in the backcourt. Derrick Rose has been a great addition for the bench and has proven very solid as a starter, but adding DeRozan would help the Pistons offense. Here’s how the trade would look:
San Antonio Spurs would receive:
- Guard Reggie Jackson
- Guard Luke Kennard
- Forward Thon Maker
- Future first-round pick
- Future second-round pick
Detroit Pistons would receive:
- Guard Demar DeRozan
This trade would benefit the Spurs as it would put the team into a rebuilding plan for the first time since they drafted David Robinson in 1987. The trade would give the Spurs two young players in Kennard and Maker, both of whom have shown minor spots of potential. They would also receive a veteran point guard in Jackson who could teach the young guards in Dejounte Murray and Derrick White.
The Orlando Magic are in a tough position and seem to be looking to shake things up. The team is loaded with potential young players and they are seeking a veteran presence to lead them in the playoffs. Here’s how the trade would look like:
San Antonio Spurs would receive:
- Forward Aaron Gordon
- Center Mohamed Bamba
Orlando Magic would receive:
- Guard Demar DeRozan
- Guard Bryn Forbes
With this trade, the San Antonio Spurs would receive a young talent in Mo Bamba, who has yet to flourish in Orlando. The Spurs could spend time with Bamba and mold him into the player everyone thought he would be coming out of college. The Spurs would also receive an All-Star-caliber player in return who is also having a down year in Aaron Gordon. Gordon would be a perfect replacement for DeRozan as he is younger and can still develop into being a star again.
The Charlotte Hornets have also been in the trade rumors for getting the veteran guard. The Hornets have not been as awful as many would have expected and are still in the playoff hunt. A move for DeRozan could help the Hornets become a surprise playoff team in the eastern conference. Here is how the trade would look like:
San Antonio Spurs would receive:
- Forward Marvin Williams
- Guard Malik Monk
- Forward PJ Washington
- Lottery-protected future first-round pick
Charlotte Hornets would receive:
- Guard Demar DeRozan
This trade would solidify the Spurs’ bench as they would receive Williams and Monk, who have both been solid bench players for the Hornets this season. The Spurs would also be getting Washington who, in his rookie season, has been a fantastic piece for the Hornets. Washington has shown the potential to be a solid starting forward in the NBA and would help the Spurs with rebuilding their team for the future.
Who wouldn’t want to see a Toronto reunion? Demar DeRozan belongs in Canada. He spent most of his career with the Raptors and led them to multiple deep playoff runs. He would also be reunited with his best friend in Kyle Lowry. The Raptors are trying to make another run at the Larry O’Brien trophy and why not bring back a Toronto favorite? Here is how the trade would go:
San Antonio Spurs would receive:
- Forward Serge Ibaka
- Guard Norman Powell
- Two future first-round picks
Toronto Raptors would receive:
- Guard Demar DeRozan
For the Spurs, this trade would entail a huge overload into a rebuild. They would be obtaining two first-round picks for the future and could flip Ibaka into another trade package where they can see themselves getting a younger player or more draft picks. This trade idea has been floating around for the past few weeks, but is seemingly more for the happiness of DeRozan rather than for the happiness of the Spurs organization.
The final destination that has been heavily talked about for DeRozan is the New York Knicks. The Knicks, who missed out on every star player imaginable in the past three years, are trying to make a splash for the veteran guard. The Knicks should have no motive in obtaining the veteran guard as they should focus on tanking the season for a high draft pick. But here we are, and here is how the trade would look like:
San Antonio Spurs would receive:
- Forward Kevin Knox
- Guard Frank Ntilikina
- Guard Wayne Ellington
- Forward Taj Gibson
The New York Knicks would receive:
- Guard Demar DeRozan
- Guard Lonnie Walker
The best benefit of this trade for the San Antonio Spurs is that they will be clearing up cap space by dumping DeRozan’s large contract onto the Knicks. They would also receive some decent bench players that may or may not be cut after the trade. Knox is an interesting piece in the trade because he showed great potential in his rookie year but has not come close to replicating it at all in his second year. The NBA trade deadline is Feb. 6, and the San Antonio Spurs may be seeing the player that they received in the Kawhi Leonard deal leaving.
