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Maybe there is hope for Ben Simmons after all. DeMar DeRozan, once one of the most reluctant 3-point shooters in the NBA, is finally letting him fly from the depths of his 12th season in the league. This is the final step in his transformation from a one-dimensional goalscorer into a well-rounded offensive player. This new version of DeRozan, who is still only 31 years old, will be one of the most intriguing free agents around this offseason – and perhaps even an attractive target by the trade deadline. The talent that made him an All-Star four times has gone nowhere. But now he can fit into almost any team in the league.
It’s not that DeRozan, who had 19 points and 8 assists shooting 2 for 6 of 3 in an upset win over the Lakers on Thursday, suddenly became Damian Lillard. He’s knocking down 3s at a high percentage this season (42.9), but he doesn’t attempt as many (2.6 per game) and most (60%) come out of the hold. The key is that he takes them in the flow of the offense. When the ball swings towards DeRozan, he doesn’t hold it and then attacks the dribble like he did before. He shoots just when open and forces the defense to keep him all over the ground:
There was never a mechanical reason why DeRozan could not take 3 s before. He entered the NBA as a slasher who relied primarily on his athleticism, but had long since become a polished scorer with the touch and footwork to drain mid-range jumpers. His sudden willingness to take 3 catch-and-shoot is more a reflection of him embracing a new role in the Spurs offense.
He is no longer the dominant player he was when he arrived in San Antonio three seasons ago. DeRozan is taking 7.1 fewer shots per game (13.8) than his career high, while averaging a career-best score (7.3 per game) and 10 fewer hits per game than Dejounte Murray. Spurs practice more of a level playing field offense, with seven players averaging in double digits. It’s the next step in a process that started in the bubble, when San Antonio started playing smaller rosters that threw more 3s and fewer isolates. There have been times this season that coach Gregg Popovich has ended games with DeRozan at 4 and Rudy Gay at 5.
It’s not that DeRozan isn’t scoring anymore: he’s still averaging 19.1 points per game on 47.3% shots. But he associates the bucket with making games and makes better decisions with the ball. DeRozan has the second highest live-shoot percentage (58.5) of his career and a roll assist ratio (5.3 to 1) that would make even Chris Paul proud. The days of dribbling the ball across the floor before getting up for a 20-footer are (for the most part) over. He’s more unpredictable offensively, getting into the lane and then taking whatever the defense gives him. He is looking for shooters rather than forcing hard shots:
Spurs desperately needed DeRozan to change their game. This is a time of transition for a proud franchise that has just left its first failed playoff appearance in 23 seasons. They are no longer contenders for anything other than the play-in tournament. The objective is to remain competitive while developing a core of young players. It wouldn’t work if DeRozan hadn’t adopted a more complementary role in attack.
San Antonio needs Murray (and Derrick White when he returns from a broken toe) to execute the attack and to find minutes for Lonnie Walker IV, Keldon Johnson and Devin Vassell, the no. 11 pick in the draft, on the wing. These last three are all under 23 years old. White is the oldest of the five at 26. DeRozan, now a former statesman, must set an example for them off the pitch while creating opportunities for them. It means playing the ball more and sacrificing your body to keep the bigger players. He started in 4th Thursday and has sometimes defended Marc Gasol and Montrezl Harrell.
Defense is always the big hole in his game. That’s a problem considering he starts off next to another poor defenseman at LaMarcus Aldridge. And while Aldridge has also widened his shooting range beyond the 3-point line to accommodate modern play, a formation with these two players as its bigger players has predictably bled points to the other end of the field. The Spurs’ starting unit of Murray, Walker, Johnson, DeRozan and Aldridge has a laughable defensive rating of 128.2 in 72 minutes this season. Popovich will likely have to make a change if he wants his team, which is 4-4 with a net score of minus-1.4, to make the playoffs. DeRozan was more effective when paired with a defensive-minded cross like Jakob Poeltl (plus-7.4 per 100 possessions, in 95 minutes) than Aldridge (minus-13.8 per 100 possessions, in 122 minutes).
The beauty of DeRozan’s decision to adopt the 3 is that he can now fit into a more traditional center like Poeltl. The old version of DeRozan required everyone to surround themselves with him in order to be successful. His teams had to find shooting and defense in every other place in the roster while stuffing him the ball, an act of juggling that limited how far they could advance into the playoffs. Now he can be plugged into any roster that can protect him in defense.
This flexibility gives him and the Spurs many options. If San Antonio falls out of the playoff contestation this season, he can sell him to contenders for young players and future picks. His expiring salary ($ 27.7 million) would be part of the business exception Boston acquired for Gordon Hayward. The Celtics could pack someone like Romeo Langford or Aaron Nesmith and a first-round pick for DeRozan, who would suit well alongside Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Conversely, if Spurs don’t want to rebuild completely, they could let Aldridge walk in the offseason, re-sign DeRozan and prioritize center defense.
It will come back to what DeRozan wants with the rest of his career. There is nothing he at to do at this point. He is a four-time All-Star who has already earned $ 148 million in the league. He can chase a ring or a big contract, or find a happy medium between the two. There will be a lot of teams chasing him if he can keep shooting and getting to that level. It’s a huge change from what it was three seasons ago, when Toronto traded him for Kawhi Leonard and he was considered one of the worst contracts in the league. DeRozan took the time to change the game. He is about to be rewarded.
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