Toronto Raptors 2016-17 player grades: The starters
By Nate Wolf
DeMarre Carroll
Ask a Raptors fan before the season, and he or she probably would’ve been cautiously optimistic about DeMarre Carroll. After signing a four-year, $60 million contract with the Raptors in 2015, the 30-year-old endured a torrid first season with Toronto.
Carroll missed 56 games with knee issues that ultimately required arthroscopic surgery. And when he got back on the court, he didn’t give the Raptors that same two-way, steady play he showed with the Atlanta Hawks.
2016-17 was supposed to be Carroll’s first real season in Toronto. In reality, it went just as poorly.
Renowned as a 3-and-D specialist, Carroll shot just 34.1 percent from deep – not good enough for a guy whose wing partner is a total non-shooter in DeMar DeRozan. And how about the defense? Well, in both the regular season and the playoffs, the Raptors were markedly better defensively with Carroll off the court.
It doesn’t help that Carroll is on a handsome contract. He looks like a third or fourth wing, and he’s being paid like a starter. Toronto General Manager Masai Ujiri even came out and said this:
"Yes, I think we do" - Ujiri on needing more from starting SF sport. "I think DeMarre's going to have a big summer."
— Blake Murphy (@BlakeMurphyODC) May 9, 2017
Injuries suck. That’s just a fact of sports. Ujiri was hopeful that a fully healthy Carroll would get back to his best. Still, in all likelihood, the Raptors will shop Carroll. Nobody wants an aging, overpaid player with two more years left on his deal, but salary dumps still happen all the time. Just ask the Kings. A fresh start may be best for all parties.