DeMarre Carroll is a Toronto Raptor.
#WeThe North I will be playing for Toronto Raptors next year!!!! I’m Blessed for this Opportunity!… https://t.co/pBK6NvRVcE
— DeMarre Carroll (@DeMarreCarroll1) July 1, 2015
The move is a shocker on the opening day of free agency, as General Manager Masai Ujiri (again) kept things close before Carroll blasted an Instagram post announcing his signing. The wing player who spent last season with the Atlanta Hawks will help usher in the new-look Raptors after signing a four-year, $60-million deal.
At first blush, this looks like a perfect fit. Carroll is an elite wing defender with a solid three-point stroke. He does not need the ball in his hands and will look to keep the ball moving — something the Raptors desperately need. There’s no doubt he takes over the starting role from Terrence Ross, who was clearly in over his head as an NBA starter. There are other ramifications for the signing.
To create space to sign DeMarre Carroll, cap gurus believe Raptors will renounce rights to Amir Johnson but can keep those of Lou Williams
— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) July 1, 2015
As it turned out, Johnson also found himself a generous offer from the Boston Celtics, worth $24 million over two seasons. For a healthy Amir, it’s fair value. But given the state of disarray in his ankles, staying healthy will be tough. Tougher still, is the surreal experience that Amir has left to join the hated Celtics. No ill will for Amir, though. Never in this city — it will always be love.
Carroll will be 29 when next season starts. His averaged 12.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 31.3 minutes per game for the Hawks last season. He shot 39.5 percent from deep, but most of those were assisted within Atlanta’s team-focused offense. Replicating said system in Toronto will be difficult, so Carroll might see a drop in open looks.
Still, Carroll flashed signs of an ability to handle a bigger role in the playoffs, where he was arguably the Hawks’ best player through the first two rounds before he got injured. He slashed hard to the hoop, shot well from deep and played lockdown defense.
Article with an assist from Kiyan and William
