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DeMar DeRozan believes he could have won it all with the Toronto Raptors in 2019
July 18th of 2018 will forever be etched in the hearts and minds of die-hard Toronto Raptors fans, as it was then that the franchise made a move that changed their future. On that day, the Raptors traded away fan favorite and longtime superstar DeMar DeRozan along with Jakob Poeltl and a 2019 first-round draft pick in exchange for Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green.
For DeRozan, it was an emotional situation considering how beloved he was amongst the Toronto faithful. He had been with the organization since 2009 and was its first All-Star player since Vince Carter. The trade paid off for the Raptors as they managed to win their first NBA championship in franchise history in 2019. But it wasn't without a little bit of heartbreak for DeRozan, who recently admitted that he believes he could have won it all with the Raptors had he not been moved.
They deserved it
DeRozan may not be on the same level as Kawhi Leonard, but he firmly believes that he and the Raptors were on a championship trajectory.
"It sucks that we couldn't see what happened," DeRozan said on Stephen A's World. "With me still being there, it changes the whole dynamic and everything. But I definitely felt that way. I congratulated all of those guys for winning that championship, every guy that I played with. That country, that city, they deserved it. But I definitely think we would've done the same thing."
What if
Discussing "what ifs" may be worthwhile from time to time but it is ultimately futile. After all, DeRozan is looking to lead the Chicago Bulls back to the post-season after missing it this season. Entering the final year of the three-year deal he has with the Bulls, he also has an extra incentive in the form of a new contract.
The Bulls' future is uncertain right now. Between personnel and contract decisions, it's hard to ascertain what next season will look like for DeRozan and Chicago. Nevertheless, he will always have fond memories of his time in Toronto and the foundation he helped lay down for the Raptors.
