On July 1, 2015, then free agent DeMarre Carroll announced via Instagram that he would be joining the Toronto Raptors. While many touted the move as another masterful decision to add to Masai Ujiri’s growing list, I was left somewhat confounded. On the one hand, the move seemed to make sense. DeMarre had earned his place in the league, and by his last season with the Atlanta Hawks, averaged just under 13 points per game, shooting nearly at a 40% clip from distance while embracing the 3 and D role.
With hope around Jonas Valanciunas’ development, and the two leading scorers at the guard positions, adding a 3-and-D player that could space the floor, while guarding the opposing team’s best player appeared to be the right move.