Best Landing Spot: San Antonio Spurs

First of all, everyone loves a reunion. Second, and more importantly, there’s actually a decent case for DeMar DeRozan making a positive difference with the Spurs.

We should introduce the caveat that San Antonio should first seek out a traditional point guard with its cap space and trade assets. Victor Wembanyama is going to be a superstar regardless, but the Spurs can’t go through another season in which Tre Jones, who’s probably a third-stringer on a good team, spends the majority of the time running the first-unit offense.

The market isn’t exactly flush with floor generals, though, so maybe the Spurs could think non-traditionally.

DeRozan has averaged more than 5.0 assists in six of his last seven seasons, and he even posted a career-high 6.9 dimes per game back in 2020-21, the last of his three years with the Spurs.

Though his facilitation wouldn’t come as a high-volume pick-and-roll orchestrator, DeRozan has shown an ability to distribute from the elbows and out of isolation sets when he draws a second defender. A little individual shot creation wouldn’t hurt either, considering San Antonio ranked 26th in offensive efficiency last season.

Worst Landing Spot: Charlotte Hornets

The smug answer would be the Chicago Bulls, as DeRozan’s return for a fourth season would signal the team’s intention to maintain its low-ceiling status quo. That actually appears to be the likeliest outcome, considering few teams are primed to top what K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago reported could be a two-year deal from the Bulls worth up to $80 million.

At least that somewhat disappointing reunion would be better than DeRozan heading to Charlotte, a team with substantial cap space, where his individual shot creation wouldn’t add the value it might elsewhere.

The Hornets figure to put the rock in a healthy LaMelo Ball’s hands this season as they try to probe the connection between him and last year’s No. 2 overall pick Brandon Miller. DeRozan is great at what he does, but his isolation game tends to make him a focal point—partly because his reluctance to space the floor and shoot threes means he doesn’t have much off-ball value.

Charlotte needs its young players to max out their touches this season, and while DeRozan could offer helpful veteran leadership to a young team that might need some, this just isn’t a fit. Neither he nor the Hornets would be set up for success.