(Toronto Raptors)

DeMar DeRozan

SG Rank – #5

Position – SG | 6′ 7″, 220 lbs | Toronto Raptors
Born – Aug 7, 1989 in Compton, CA
Drafted – 2009: 1st Rnd, 9th by TOR
College – USC
Experience – 6 years

Sports Unbiased Staff G.F.R. Analysis

Ben Buchanan – DeRozan is the perfect example of a gym rat. He’s always working on his game, adding new aspects to it, and trying to get better. He’s an elite scorer, as he averaged 22.7 ppg in 2013-14 and 2014-15 season he averaged 20.1 ppg. DeRozan also became a much better rebounder, he averaged a career high 4.6 rpg last season, and also took strides to become a much better passer and defender.

DeRozan was playing at an extremely elite level when the Raptors where flying high (23-6, 1st in the East), but then he went down with a leg injury which sidelined him for close to two months. The Raptors really struggled when he came back for the first couple of months, but he then picked up his level of play towards the end of the season (march Eastern Conference player of the month). DeRozan also struggles with long range shooting (28 percent career three-point shooter). If DeRozan can add more range to his repertoire there’s no reason why he can’t become an All-NBA level player.

Sauping R. Arguello – DeRozan can score and defend but has he reached his pinnacle as a player? He needs to become the leader that can take the Raptors to the next level.

Jr. Williams – Kyle Lowry is considered by most to be the best player for the Raptors, however, DeRozan is arguably the most important player because of his ability to score and defend. Without him in the line-up last season the Raptors obviously experienced issues at the SG position, but when he returned, the team resurfaced and somehow found a way to rank No.4 in the Eastern Conference.

DeRozan has gotten some slack for his drop in field goal efficiency in 2014-15, but you have to throw such notion out the window considering he missed 22 games last season. Still, he performs well at the SG position and we should see some offensive improvements from him in 2015-16. He’s a top-5 shooting guard hands down.