NBA Rumors: Raptors, Hornets Will Need To Max Out DeRozan, Batum

NBA Rumors: In order to retain DeMar DeRozan and Nicolas Batum this summer, they will need to be maxed out by the Raptors and Hornets, respectively

With the NBA’s salary cap increasing at a historic rate this summer, it’s only natural for some of that extra money to find its way to some unlikely hands. And with the summer approaching quickly, it’s been revealed that one of those unlikely candidates could be Nicolas Batum.

Batum has always been a better-than-average player in the NBA. I would go all the way to say that he’s often a borderline all-star player in most years. But to say that he’s a max player would be a stretch – at least in my opinion.

Nevertheless, he could be one of those players in line for one this summer. At least that’s what the sense seems to be.

According to ESPN’s Zach Lowe, both he and DeMar DeRozan are two candidates that could be eligible for max deals this summer. And if the Raptors and Hornets want to keep DeRozan and Batum, respectively, on their roster beyond this season, they’re going to need to pony up that big money.

More from Sir Charles In Charge

"[via ESPN]A bunch of teams, including DeRozan’s hometown Lakers, are prepared to offer him a max deal starting at $25 million per season, and the Raptors know they will have to spend big to keep him.…Ujiri has long been connected to Nicolas Batum, who will also likely command a max deal amid the unprecedented salary-cap spike. Batum isn’t as explosive as DeRozan, but he can shoot 3s, he’s a (slightly) better passer and he can defend more positions. Pair him with Carroll, and the Raps would have two wings who can both shoot 3s and slide to power forward — basic ingredients to the kind of powerhouse small-ball lineups Golden State discovered."

If the Raptors and Hornets don’t have interest in giving the max to their impending free agents, there will be a number of teams ready to swoop in. And one of them could very well be the Los Angeles Lakers, who will have plenty of money to play with this summer.

The Lakers have already been linked to DeRozan during the last few weeks, and their interest in him is not being hidden. They have wanted him for a while now (reportedly) and they’ll finally have a chance to pursue him in a few months. Of course, if the Raptors give DeRozan the max money that he’ll likely demand on the open market, none of this matters. He’ll be remaining in Toronto.

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However, if Toronto would rather pursue Batum – ironically – instead of DeRozan with that max slot, that’s when free agency could get very interesting. There’s definitely mutual interest between Toronto and Batum. However, there’s no guarantee that anything will come of it this summer.

The bottom line is that both Batum and DeRozan will get the max money that they’ll likely chase this summer, we just don’t know where it’ll come from. Ideally, from the Raptors and Hornets. But things can change awfully quickly in a few months in the NBA.