Toronto added Kawhi Leonard and immediately looked like one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference. The move raised the obvious follow-up question of whether the Raptors would also chase a veteran scorer like DeMar DeRozan. Yet any momentum toward that reunion appears to have evaporated after Drake released his latest album.
In the track National Treasure, Drake raps about a former teammate: When you was a part of the team we used to be plannin' our Mexico trip in the spring. We must've been dealin' in spur of the moment cause why did we think you could get us a ring. The barb lands squarely on DeRozan, who spent nine seasons in Toronto before being traded to the Spurs. Given Drake's visible role as a global ambassador for the franchise, the lyric creates an awkward backdrop for any potential homecoming.
The Raptors must now decide how they want to generate points when Leonard rests. DeRozan remains an efficient isolation scorer and reliable mid-range shooter who can create his own shot in the half court. That profile would give Toronto a different look alongside Leonard's drives and Scottie Barnes' interior presence. Yet Barnes took a major step forward last season, developing into a primary option capable of running the offense during Leonard's minutes off the floor.
DeRozan's strengths align with traditional half-court sets built around drawing help defense and kicking out or scoring from the elbows. His mid-range game and late-shot-clock reliability could complement the slashing of Leonard and the versatility Barnes showed inside. At the same time, DeRozan is less dynamic away from the ball than the pick-and-roll actions Toronto has emphasized with Barnes, Leonard and Pascal Siakam. Bringing him back would tilt the offense toward more isolation possessions and potentially reduce the connective play that has defined recent lineups.
The larger issue extends beyond scheme. Drake's cultural footprint in Toronto has helped sell the franchise to fans and free agents alike for years. A pointed lyric from the team's most prominent celebrity supporter carries weight in the locker room and in the court of public opinion. Masai Ujiri has shown he will make tough calls that prioritize winning over external noise. Still, ignoring the Drake factor entirely would mark a shift from the way the organization has operated during his influential tenure.
Toronto retains flexibility to add a short-term veteran on a minimum deal before free agency begins. The front office could pursue a lower-usage wing who defends and spaces the floor without the same historical baggage. That path would keep the core of Leonard, Barnes and Siakam intact while still addressing the need for bench scoring. Over the coming weeks the Raptors will reveal whether on-court fit ultimately outweighs the off-court complications created by one song.
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